1. Forum Concludes with Over 120 Recommendations

The three-day Peace Forum 2025, held in Nay Pyi Taw under the theme “Towards a New Nation of Peace and Prosperity through the Integration of Peace, Elections and Development”, concluded with over 120 recommendations submitted to Myanmar’s leadership. Key proposals included:

• Suspension of military conscription during the election period.
• Release of political prisoners detained post-2021 coup.
• Constitutional review and transparent electoral processes 611.

The recommendations will be forwarded to Prime Minister Min Aung Hlaing for implementation, though skepticism remains about their practical impact 6.

2. Junta’s Call for EAOs and PDFs to Disarm

Junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing reiterated demands for ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) to abandon armed resistance and participate in the planned 2025 elections. He framed elections as the "best political solution" and promised power transfer to the winning party—a claim widely dismissed by opposition groups and international observers 1013.

Critics note that major EAOs like the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) boycotted the forum, while the National League for Democracy (NLD) remains banned 13.

3. International Participation and Skepticism

The forum saw attendance from:

• China’s Special Envoy Deng Xijun (supporting stability over democracy) 512.
• India’s retired diplomat Jaideep Mazumdar (potential backer of election legitimacy) 12.
• Russia’s far-right philosopher Aleksandr Dugin (advising on "Eurasianism") 35.

Western embassies largely avoided the event, with UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews condemning the junta’s election plans as a "fraudulent" legitimacy ploy 13.

4. Focus on Elections Amid Ongoing Conflict

The SAC plans phased elections in late 2025, excluding conflict zones like Rakhine and Shan States. Discussions emphasized:

• A mixed first-past-the-post and proportional representation system. Read More
• Post-election federalism talks, though EAOs dismiss these as insincere.

Opposition groups argue that elections under military rule cannot be free or fair, citing the dissolution of the NLD and continued violence against civilians 13.

5. Humanitarian and Geopolitical Discussions

Parallel sessions addressed:

• Socio-economic recovery post-conflict and natural disasters (e.g., March’s Mandalay earthquake) 5.
• China’s role in brokering ceasefires with northern EAOs, despite Min Aung Hlaing’s veiled criticism of "foreign interference". Read More Here

Conclusion: A Theater of Absurd?

While state media framed the forum as a step toward peace, analysts describe it as a military-orchestrated charade to legitimize the SAC’s election roadmap. With armed conflict raging and key stakeholders excluded, the forum’s outcomes are unlikely to alter Myanmar’s trajectory of violence and repression 313.