United Wa State Army (UWSA), Government 6-Point Union-Level Peace Agreement

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Country/entity: Myanmar
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: United Wa State Army (UWSA), Government 6-Point Union-Level Peace Agreement
Date: 26 Dec 2012
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Myanmar Conflict (1948 - )
Internal conflict, mostly along ethno-political fault lines, has been a constant feature of Myanmar since its independence in 1948. The conflict has two distinct dynamics. First a struggle between an authoritarian government and a pro-democracy opposition which has the characteristics of authoritarian conflicts; and second a stuggle between the government and ethnic armed groups which has the characteristics of an identity conflict. The two oldest and strongest militias fighting the government are the Karen National Union (KNU), which has remained active since the late 1940s, and the Kachin Independence Organisation, which was formed in the early 1960s. In total, here are more than a dozen mostly ethnic-based guerrilla groups active throughout the country. Especially in the period of junta dictatorship that lasted until 2011 the government attempted to crush the rebellions, which led to numerous human rights violations. With the start of democratic reforms in the aftermath of the 2010 elections, peace negotiations have taken place and resulted in the signing of various agreements, although conflicts remain active.
Stage: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Myanmar ceasefires process with ethnic armed groups
Parties: Union Level Peace-making Group led by U Aung Thaung and “Wa” Special Region (2) Peacemaking Group headed by Vice-Chairman U Shauk Min Lyan held second peace talks at the meeting hall of “Wa” Special Region in Pansang.
Third parties: -
Description: Six point ceasefire agreement which includes provisions regarding socio-economic development and improvement of living standards for national people in the “Wa” Special Region (2), and inclusion of representatives of townships in the Hluttaw of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

Agreement document: MM_121226_UWSA-Government.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: Groups→Children/youth→Rhetorical
Page 1, (3) The Union government agrees to help increase opportunities for national races youths in “Wa” Special Region (2) to pursue education with the mindset to develop their insights, to equip them with vocational education and to realize human resources development.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: Groups→Racial/ethnic/national group→Rhetorical
Page 1, (2) It is agreed to adopt short-term or long-term socio-economic development plans in light of bilateral consultations to enable the Union government to participate in tasks for improvement of living standard of the national people in “Wa” Special Region (2) and for regional development.

Page 1, (3) The Union government agrees to help increase opportunities for national races youths in “Wa” Special Region (2) to pursue education with the mindset to develop their insights, to equip them with vocational education and to realize human resources development.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): Page 1, (6) “Wa” Special Region (2) is an important part of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. “Wa” Special Region (2) agrees to continue to hold talk to cooperate with defence forces of the State for security and defence of the State as one as it agrees not to disintegrate the State and secede from the State at all and
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: Power sharing→Political power sharing→Proportionality in legislature
Sub-state level
Page 1, (5) It is agreed to continue negotiating matters related to enable representatives of people in townships of “Wa” Special Region (2) take seats in each Hluttaw of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to represent desires of the people in “Wa” Special Region (2).
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic development
Page 1, (2) It is agreed to adopt short-term or long-term socio-economic development plans in light of bilateral consultations to enable the Union government to participate in tasks for improvement of living standard of the national people in “Wa” Special Region (2) and for regional development.

(3) The Union government agrees to help increase opportunities for national races youths in “Wa” Special Region (2) to pursue education with the mindset to develop their insights, to equip them with vocational education and to realize human resources development.

(4) The Union government agrees to adopt long-term plans for cooperation of local people in treatment, prevention and education processes of healthcare to national people in “Wa” Special Region (2), acquiring health knowledge.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Page 1, (6) “Wa” Special Region (2) is an important part of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. “Wa” Special Region (2) agrees to continue to hold talk to cooperate with defence forces of the State for security and defence of the State as one as it agrees not to disintegrate the State and secede from the State at all and
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→General commitments
[Summary] Although the agreement does not explicitly provide for a ceasefire, it was considered by both parties and observers to be a ceasefire agreement, with cessation of hostilities related to broader issues of the process in the agreed points.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Myanmar Peace Monitor, available at https://www.mmpeacemonitor.org/images/pdf/UWSA-Government.pdf (Accessed on January 8, 2020; archived on Wayback Machine).

UWSA Government 6-point Union-level Peace Agreement

26 December 2012

Union Level Peace-making Group led by U Aung Thaung and “Wa” Special Region (2) Peacemaking Group headed by Vice-Chairman U Shauk Min Lyan held second peace talks at the meeting hall of “Wa” Special Region in Pansang.

The two sides signed a six-point agreement:

(1) Both sides have reached agreement to continue implementing agreements signed in Lashio on 1 October, 2011.

(2) It is agreed to adopt short-term or long-term socio-economic development plans in light of bilateral consultations to enable the Union government to participate in tasks for improvement of living standard of the national people in “Wa” Special Region (2) and for regional development.

(3) The Union government agrees to help increase opportunities for national races youths in “Wa” Special Region (2) to pursue education with the mindset to develop their insights, to equip them with vocational education and to realize human resources development.

(4) The Union government agrees to adopt long-term plans for cooperation of local people in treatment, prevention and education processes of healthcare to national people in “Wa” Special Region (2), acquiring health knowledge.

(5) It is agreed to continue negotiating matters related to enable representatives of people in townships of “Wa” Special Region (2) take seats in each Hluttaw of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to represent desires of the people in “Wa” Special Region (2).

(6) “Wa” Special Region (2) is an important part of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. “

Wa” Special Region (2) agrees to continue to hold talk to cooperate with defence forces of the State for security and defence of the State as one as it agrees not to disintegrate the State and secede from the State at all and