Myanmar gov't, ethnic armed groups resume ceasefire talks in Yangon
Myanmar gov't, ethnic armed groups resume ceasefire talks in Yangon
English.news.cn, 22 Sep 2014
URL: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-09/22/c_133662331.htm
YANGON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Myanmar government and ethnic armed groups resumed their sixth round of nationwide ceasefire talks in Yangon on Monday, focusing some five remaining points out of 104 of the draft ceasefire accord left by the previous talks.
The talks between the government's Union Peace Making Work Committee (UPWC) and the ethnic armed groups' National Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) also involves parliamentarians and the army.
UPWC Vice Chairman U Aung Min, who is minister at the President 's Office, highlighted at the opening of talks that Myanmar's peace process has entered into an important phase and such ceasefire agreement has never emerged in Myanmar's history.
"What we make the efforts are not only for the signing of the ceasefire agreement but also for laying down a firm basis for further political dialogue," he said.
Pointing out that the destiny of the country and the people falls on leaders of the two peace-making groups and the door for peace has been opened by both the government and ethnic groups, NCCT leader U Naing Han Tha called for emphasis on the opportunity and efforts for achieving peace in the country.
Important progress was made in the fifth round of talks in August after the two sides overcame many conflict issues to reach many consensus and moved towards the finalization of the draft nationwide ceasefire accord.
During the last talks, the government side made a major concession complying with ethnic armed groups' demand for building a federal system of government guaranteeing the rights of democracy, nationalities equality and self-determination.
The armed groups side also agreed to the government's consistent principles of non-disintegration of the union, non- disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty.
The UPWC and leaders of the ethnic armed groups met in Myitgyina, capital of Kachin state, for the very first time in November 2013 for nationwide ceasefire talks and after that the UPWC also met the NCCT for a number of occasions in an effort to work out the draft nationwide ceasefire agreement.
The leaders of the ethnic armed groups also held three summits focusing on nationwide ceasefire.
Since the 1950s, there has been in existence of a number of ethnic armed groups. Since U Thein Sein's government took office in March 2011, it has vigorously pushed the process of national reconciliation, having realized ceasefire with 14 of the 16 ethnic armed groups on separate occasions and it is now moving forward to a nationwide ceasefire to pay way for political dialogues for firm and eternal peace in the country.
The talks between the government's Union Peace Making Work Committee (UPWC) and the ethnic armed groups' National Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) also involves parliamentarians and the army.
UPWC Vice Chairman U Aung Min, who is minister at the President 's Office, highlighted at the opening of talks that Myanmar's peace process has entered into an important phase and such ceasefire agreement has never emerged in Myanmar's history.
"What we make the efforts are not only for the signing of the ceasefire agreement but also for laying down a firm basis for further political dialogue," he said.
Pointing out that the destiny of the country and the people falls on leaders of the two peace-making groups and the door for peace has been opened by both the government and ethnic groups, NCCT leader U Naing Han Tha called for emphasis on the opportunity and efforts for achieving peace in the country.
Important progress was made in the fifth round of talks in August after the two sides overcame many conflict issues to reach many consensus and moved towards the finalization of the draft nationwide ceasefire accord.
During the last talks, the government side made a major concession complying with ethnic armed groups' demand for building a federal system of government guaranteeing the rights of democracy, nationalities equality and self-determination.
The armed groups side also agreed to the government's consistent principles of non-disintegration of the union, non- disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty.
The UPWC and leaders of the ethnic armed groups met in Myitgyina, capital of Kachin state, for the very first time in November 2013 for nationwide ceasefire talks and after that the UPWC also met the NCCT for a number of occasions in an effort to work out the draft nationwide ceasefire agreement.
The leaders of the ethnic armed groups also held three summits focusing on nationwide ceasefire.
Since the 1950s, there has been in existence of a number of ethnic armed groups. Since U Thein Sein's government took office in March 2011, it has vigorously pushed the process of national reconciliation, having realized ceasefire with 14 of the 16 ethnic armed groups on separate occasions and it is now moving forward to a nationwide ceasefire to pay way for political dialogues for firm and eternal peace in the country.