Suu Kyi urges ethnic groups to sign peace deal
Suu Kyi urges ethnic groups to sign peace deal
The Straits Times, 13 Feb 2017
URL: http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/suu-kyi-urges-ethnic-groups-to-sign-peace-deal
De facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi urged all of the country's armed ethnic groups to sign a ceasefire agreement, as her government seeks to end decades of conflict between the military and armed ethnic groups, reported the Associated Press.
Speaking during the annual Union Day celebrations yesterday, Ms Suu Kyi said that ethnic groups who had not joined the peace process could still participate in the movement for peace by signing the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).
This landmark deal was agreed upon by the previous government and eight of the organizations in 2015.
"I want to ask those ethnic groups who haven't signed the nationwide ceasefire to trust yourself and sign it and please participate in our 21st Century Panglong Conference," Ms Suu Kyi said, referring to the major ethnic peace conference that was first held in August last year.
Ms Suu Kyi was speaking yesterday in the town of Panglong, located in restive Shan state, where the government held a state ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the country's Union Day.
Ms Suu Kyi also urged all stakeholders in the peace process yesterday to make sacrifices in the interest of the people.
Ms Suu Kyi made the peace process her government's top priority when she took office last year, and has tried to start a dialogue with ethnic armed groups to craft a lasting peace deal. But fighting continues between the military and groups that were not party to the ceasefire deal reached in 2015.
Speaking during the annual Union Day celebrations yesterday, Ms Suu Kyi said that ethnic groups who had not joined the peace process could still participate in the movement for peace by signing the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).
This landmark deal was agreed upon by the previous government and eight of the organizations in 2015.
"I want to ask those ethnic groups who haven't signed the nationwide ceasefire to trust yourself and sign it and please participate in our 21st Century Panglong Conference," Ms Suu Kyi said, referring to the major ethnic peace conference that was first held in August last year.
Ms Suu Kyi was speaking yesterday in the town of Panglong, located in restive Shan state, where the government held a state ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the country's Union Day.
Ms Suu Kyi also urged all stakeholders in the peace process yesterday to make sacrifices in the interest of the people.
Ms Suu Kyi made the peace process her government's top priority when she took office last year, and has tried to start a dialogue with ethnic armed groups to craft a lasting peace deal. But fighting continues between the military and groups that were not party to the ceasefire deal reached in 2015.