Seven ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), including the Shan RCSS which has signed a ceasefire agreement with the military council, issued a statement on May 5 demanding five key points, including the formation of a federal democratic transitional government and the drafting of a constitution. The seven organizations comprising the EAO Alliance are the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), New Mon State Party (NMSP), Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), and Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC).
During the 7 EAO Alliance leadership meeting held from April 29 to 30, the groups reviewed and revised their federal democratic transition plan to address the current political crisis in Myanmar. They established guidelines for future actions and processes. The meeting resulted in key decisions including the demand for a nationwide ceasefire, commitment to building a federal democratic union, formation of a transitional government, drafting of a constitution, and holding of elections. The alliance’s federal democratic transition proposal includes several significant points that require all parties involved in the conflict to declare a ceasefire without preconditions, make commitments regarding the federal democratic union, form a federal democratic transitional government, draft a federal democratic union constitution, and hold elections in accordance with the new constitution.
The specific demands put forward by the seven EAOs represent a comprehensive approach to resolving Myanmar’s ongoing political crisis. They call for an unconditional nationwide ceasefire by all conflict parties, a commitment from all stakeholders to the establishment of a federal democratic union, the formation of a federal democratic transitional government, the drafting of a federal democratic union constitution, and the holding of elections in accordance with this constitution. These demands reflect the position of ethnic armed organizations in seeking a peaceful resolution to the country’s political crisis through institutional reform and democratic processes. When contacted by Yangon Modern News regarding the statement, the information and communication officials of the 7 EAO Alliance declined to provide further comments.
