Myanmar: ethnic armed groups pledge negotiations with government
Myanmar’s ethnic armed groups, which have yet to sign the National Ceasefire Accord (NCA), pledged to continue talks with the government on a comprehensive peace process.
Overview of the meeting between Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, on behalf of the Myanmar government, and Chairman of the UNFC N’Ban La on July 17 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Myanmar’s꧃ ethnic armed groups, which have yet to sign the National Ceasefire Accord (NCA), pledged to continue talks with the government on a comprehensive peace process, the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) said in a press release on July 18.
The press release came after a meeting between Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, on behalf of the Myanmar government, and Chairman of the UNFC N’Ban La on July 17.
The UNFC’s political negotiation delegation, which represents the non-signatories to the NCA , discussed with the government the end of military attacks on ethnic minority groups in northern Myanmar with the hope that armed groups in the conflict can simultaneously announce the real ceasefire nationwide.
The press release said Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy had pledged to establish a federal government in Myanmar with a constitution based on the rule of law.
The meeting took place ahead a conference on ethnic armed groups slated for July 26-29 in Maijayan, Kachin State, which is controlled by the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO).
According to the decision made at the meeting between NCA signatories and non-signatories in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on July 8, the Maijayan conference with the participation of 55 armed ethnic groups will reach a common viewpoint in order to prepare for the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference in Nay Pyi Taw at the end of August.
Earlier, the preparation committee for the Panglong Conference decided to allow non-signatory armed groups to participate in the Maijayan conference to ensure they are able to approach the political dialogue.
The previous government in Myanmar and eight out of 15 ethnic armed groups signed the NCA on October 15,2015.-VNA
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Overview of the meeting between Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, on behalf of the Myanmar government, and Chairman of the UNFC N’Ban La on July 17 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
