25 April 2026 By Ko Myo
YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar’s National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) has flatly rejected a recent peace invitation from the military junta, describing it as a calculated attempt to sow division among resistance forces and secure legal impunity for the regime’s leadership.
The statement, issued on Friday, comes in response to the junta’s announcement of a peace dialogue window scheduled between 21 April and 31 July 2026. The NUCC, a broad-based consultative body comprising ethnic armed organisations and pro-democracy groups, warned that the offer is a “sham” designed to provide the junta with political legitimacy.
The council argued that the military is attempting to revive the 2008 Constitution and the defunct Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) framework—both of which the NUCC considers nullified by the 2021 coup.
“While they claim there are ‘no preconditions,’ the fact that they base this on the NCA process means they have already set the stage to manipulate the outcome,” the NUCC stated. “This path will never lead to the federal democracy the people desire or the end of the military dictatorship.”
The NUCC reaffirmed its six core political goals as the only viable path to stability. These include:
- The total end of military involvement in politics.
- Placing all armed forces under the control of an elected civilian government.
- The absolute abolition of the 2008 Constitution.
- The drafting of a new Federal Democratic Constitution.
- The establishment of a new Federal Democratic Union.
- Justice and accountability for victims of military atrocities.
The council’s rejection is rooted in decades of historical mistrust. The statement pointed out that for over 70 years, the Myanmar military has used peace talks as a strategic tool to retain power, often ending such periods with renewed coups and intensified conflict.
“The root cause of the suffering in Myanmar is the military’s presence in politics,” the NUCC added. “Only when the military exits the political arena can the door to solving our national problems truly open.”
The NUCC urged all revolutionary forces to remain united under their shared political agreements and vowed to continue the struggle alongside the public until all forms of dictatorship are eradicated. As the junta continues to face severe territorial losses across the country, observers say this latest peace overture is a sign of the regime’s growing isolation both domestically and on the international stage.
