National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) Agreed Terms

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Country/entity: Myanmar
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) Agreed Terms
Date: 7 Sep 2011
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: National Democratic Alliance Army; Government of Myanmar
Third parties: -
Description: A list of proposed and agreed upon terms for the Myanmar peace process.

Agreement document: MM_NDAA-Proposed-Terms.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: 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, Agreed upon terms:
2. NDAA will not secede from the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
3. Government officials will be sent to run government offices in NDAA areas and NDAA people will be sent to work in NDAA liaison offices in government controlled areas.
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, Agreed upon terms:
4. The two sides will cooperate to improve education, health and transportation in NDAA controlled areas.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: Page 1, Agreed upon terms:
5. Both will cooperate to improve tourism, mining, and electricity in NDAA controlled areas.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: Page 1, Agreed upon terms:
5. Both will cooperate to improve tourism, mining, and electricity in NDAA controlled areas.
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: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→General commitments
[Summary] Although the agreement does not explicitly provide for a ceasefire, it was considered by all parties to be a ceasefire agreement, with cessation of hostilities related to broader issues of the process in the agreed points. It includes a proposal to ensure the current ceasefire continues.
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: Page 1, Agreed upon terms:
6. Both will cooperate to work towards eliminating drugs in the NDAA controlled areas.
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, Agreed upon terms:
7. The two sides will meet regularly in order to maintain peace.

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, https://web.archive.org/web/20200107164413/https://www.mmpeacemonitor.org/1499

NDAA Proposed Terms:

1. To allow the NDAA to open liaison offices in Rangoon, Taunggyi, Tachilek, and Mandalay.

2. To issue national identification cards for people in the NDAA controlled area of Eastern Shan State.

3. To issue vehicle licenses for people in NDAA areas.

4. To open tourism areas for Thai and Chinese tourists.

5. To allow the NDAA access to mining, coal and gold exploration and production.

6. To allow outside business groups to invest in the NDAA areas.

7. To send researchers to the area to assess natural resources.

8. To allow access to teak wood trading for 10,000 tons, as well as 10,000 tons of other hardwoods.

9. To allow NDAA control of border checkpoints and to receive border checkpoint tax fees.

10. To allow NGOS and the U.N. to help improve the area.

11. NDAA is pleased to take part in government’s 15 year (1999-2014) drug elimination plan.

12. To supply NDAA areas with rice, fuel oil and money.

13. The group is pleased to welcome government personnel to resume work in government offices, after a joint assessment of the area.

14. The NDAA would like government officials to come and meet regularly in order to ensure their current ceasefire continues.

Agreed upon terms:

1. The two groups ratify the first meeting agreement.

2. NDAA will not secede from the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

3. Government officials will be sent to run government offices in NDAA areas and NDAA people will be sent to work in NDAA liaison offices in government controlled areas.

4. The two sides will cooperate to improve education, health and transportation in NDAA controlled areas.

5. Both will cooperate to improve tourism, mining, and electricity in NDAA controlled areas.

6. Both will cooperate to work towards eliminating drugs in the NDAA controlled areas.

7. The two sides will meet regularly in order to maintain peace.