Ethnic Armed Groups in Myanmar Reject Junta Peace Overtures, Vow Coalition Unity

Major ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) belonging to a key resistance coalition have rejected peace talk approaches from Myanmar's military junta, insisting on all-inclusive negotiations and adhering to their shared federal democratic framework. The Steering Council for the Emergence of a Federal Democratic Union (SCEF)—formed on March 30 by the shadow National Unity Government (NUG), parliamentary body CRPH, and four major ethnic armies—reiterated its refusal to engage in separate, bilateral talks aimed at dividing the resistance movement. Two central Myanmar resistance groups from Sagaing and Mandalay regions have also joined the coalition. The junta recently attempted to approach the Chin National Front (CNF) through third-party intermediaries, sending representatives as far as Aizawl, India. However, the offer was rejected. “The peace offers from coup leader Min Aung Hlaing are not genuine,” said Dr. Sui Khar, foreign minister of the Chinland Council government, during an Aug. 28 press briefing. “If he truly wants peace, he needs to offer inclusive talks involving all stakeholders. The junta’s approach of negotiating only with individual ethnic groups must not happen. That’s why we stand firmly by the principles of the SCEF.” Meanwhile, the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) addressed reports that the junta had invited it to peace talks on Sept. 4. “We haven’t received any official information about this,” said Col. Naw Bu, spokesperson for the KIO and its armed wing, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Col. Naw Bu previously emphasized that the KIO will not accept separate talks designed to sow division among anti-junta forces. But he said it remains open to comprehensive dialogue with all political stakeholders. Other alliance members, including the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and the Karen National Union (KNU), have similarly rejected the junta's approach. The KNPP stated it would refuse any talks predicated on the military-drafted 2008 Constitution or the 2015 Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), both of which preserve the military's political dominance. The NUG, CRPH, KIO, KNU, CNF, and KNPP established the SCEF to provide political and military leadership for the resistance movement. The coalition's six core objectives include ending military rule, permanently removing the armed forces from politics, establishing civilian command over the military, completely abolishing the 2008 Constitution, drafting a new federal democratic charter, and pursuing transitional justice.