The three-day peace talks being held in Naypyidaw have been strongly criticized by Padoh Saw Taw Nee, a Central Executive Committee member of the Karen National Union (KNU), who described them as a meaningless exercise equivalent to watering a poisonous plant. The talks, which are being conducted from March 24 to 26, involve the military council-controlled National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC), some ethnic armed organizations that are signatories to the NCA, and various political parties.
Padoh Saw Taw Nee emphasized that conducting such inconsequential talks while the country faces widespread destruction is nothing more than a wasteful exercise. He compared the military council’s actions to those of Emperor Nero, who allegedly played music while Rome burned, stating that everyone knows the military council is leading the country toward destruction, yet they continue to engage in these meaningless activities. The timing and nature of these talks, according to the KNU leader, demonstrate a complete disconnect from the reality of the country’s current crisis.
While the military council has declared that these peace talks are intended to be a significant step in the peace process, claiming they aim to reduce internal conflicts and promote economic development through the participation of experts and prominent figures, ethnic leaders view it as an empty gesture. They argue that at a time when the country needs solutions to critical problems, such talks cannot address the real challenges facing the people. The military council’s announcement that the talks are meant to raise public awareness about non-violent approaches to peace and to develop both short-term and long-term action plans has been met with skepticism from those who see the current situation as requiring more substantial and meaningful action rather than ceremonial discussions.
