Agreement between the State-Level Peace-Making Team and the Karen National Union (KNU)/Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Peace Council

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Country/entity: Myanmar
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: Agreement between the State-Level Peace-Making Team and the Karen National Union (KNU)/Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Peace Council
Date: 7 Feb 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: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Myanmar ceasefires process with ethnic armed groups
Parties: 1. Karen State-Level Peace-Making Team
2. Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army (KNU/KNLA) Peace Council
Third parties: -
Description: Agreement to continue existing peace process, setting forth terms for future negotiations and action to be taken following a preliminary peace agreement.

Agreement document: MN_120207_AgreementState-LevelPeacemakingTeam-KNUKNLAPeaceCouncil.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): MM_120207_KPC-Government_BUR.pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Substantive
Page 1, 6. After reaching the initial agreement, the State will allow and render assistance for self- reliant undertakings for quickly fulfilling the basic needs, education, health, transport, water and electricity supply in the area for resettlement of national races that are residing in other country and render assistance for self-reliant;
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): No specific mention.
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: No specific mention.
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, 5. The Union level peace-making group and the advanced peace-making group of the KNU/KNLA Peace Council will meet at the mutually agreed place and time to continuously hold talks on peace and stability of the region, development, settlements of troops and eternal peace;
6. After reaching the initial agreement, the State will allow and render assistance for self- reliant undertakings for quickly fulfilling the basic needs, education, health, transport, water and electricity supply in the area for resettlement of national races that are residing in other country and render assistance for self-reliant;
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: Page 1, 6. After reaching the initial agreement, the State will allow and render assistance for self- reliant undertakings for quickly fulfilling the basic needs, education, health, transport, water and electricity supply in the area for resettlement of national races that are residing in other country and render assistance for self-reliant;

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Page 1, 5. The Union level peace-making group and the advanced peace-making group of the KNU/KNLA Peace Council will meet at the mutually agreed place and time to continuously hold talks on peace and stability of the region, development, settlements of troops and eternal peace;
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 1, 5. The Union level peace-making group and the advanced peace-making group of the KNU/KNLA Peace Council will meet at the mutually agreed place and time to continuously hold talks on peace and stability of the region, development, settlements of troops and eternal peace;
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: Page 1, The seven-point agreement is as follows:-
1. It is agreed to maintain current peace process between the Tatmadaw and KNU/KNLA Peace Council;
2. It is agreed to settle KNU/KNLA Peace Council members in (Mela and Htohkawkoe);
3. Liaison offices will be established with the persons agreed by both sides at both side- agreed places for holding bilateral talks. Economic and liaison offices of the company will be opened in Hpa-an, Myawady, Phayathonzu, Kawkareik, Mawtaung and Kawthoung;
...

5. The Union level peace-making group and the advanced peace-making group of the KNU/KNLA Peace Council will meet at the mutually agreed place and time to continuously hold talks on peace and stability of the region, development, settlements of troops and eternal peace;
...
7. Both sides will agree definitions of the peace submitted by the KNU/KNLA Peace Council in principle and will strive for realization of the peace process.

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: UN Peacemaker; http://peacemaker.un.org/ ; http://peacemaker.un.org/myanmar-KNU-KLNA-PeaceCouncil2012

Agreement between the State-Level Peace-Making Team and the KNU/KNLA Peace Council

7 February 2012

The seven-point agreement is as follows:-

It is agreed to maintain current peace process between the Tatmadaw and KNU/KNLA Peace Council;

It is agreed to settle KNU/KNLA Peace Council members in (Mela and Htohkawkoe);

Liaison offices will be established with the persons agreed by both sides at both side- agreed places for holding bilateral talks.

Economic and liaison offices of the company will be opened in Hpa-an, Myawady, Phayathonzu, Kawkareik, Mawtaung and Kawthoung;

Both sides will hold coordination not to transgress the regions without arms apart from the mutually agreed regions;

The Union level peace-making group and the advanced peace-making group of the KNU/KNLA Peace Council will meet at the mutually agreed place and time to continuously hold talks on peace and stability of the region, development, settlements of troops and eternal peace;

After reaching the initial agreement, the State will allow and render assistance for self- reliant undertakings for quickly fulfilling the basic needs, education, health, transport, water and electricity supply in the area for resettlement of national races that are residing in other country and render assistance for self-reliant;

Both sides will agree definitions of the peace submitted by the KNU/KNLA Peace Council in principle and will strive for realization of the peace process.