Myanmar Junta's Call for Talks Amid Conflict

Myanmar Junta Calls for Peace Talks Amid Growing Conflict

The military junta in Myanmar, which has ruled the country for three years, has made a surprising call for armed groups to lay down their weapons and engage in negotiations. The junta invited "terrorist insurgent groups" and armed ethnic minority groups to discuss a political solution to the ongoing conflicts. This move comes after the junta faced significant setbacks in battles against pro-democracy fighters and ethnic minority groups. They emphasized the need for armed groups to pursue "the path of party politics and elections" to achieve "lasting peace and development." The ongoing conflict has resulted in the loss of human resources, basic infrastructure, and countless lives, hindering the country's stability and development. A spokesman for the Karen National Union (KNU), an armed group fighting for more autonomy near the Thailand border, stated that talks are only possible if the military agrees to shared political goals, including a federal democratic constitution and accountability for their actions. Without these conditions, the spokesman emphasized, "nothing will happen." The junta, which ousted the government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, has been involved in intense battles with pro-democracy fighters and ethnic minority groups. Recently, these groups have gained ground, notably capturing the military's northeastern command center in Lashio. Despite justifying their coup with unproven allegations of election fraud in 2020, the junta has long promised elections once conditions allow. Since 2021, over 5700 civilians have been killed and more than 20,000 detained by the military, according to local observers.