KNU and NMSP agree to temporary ceasefire
KNU and NMSP agree to temporary ceasefire
Myanmar Times, 14 Mar 2018
URL: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/knu-and-nmsp-agree-temporary-ceasefire.html
The Karen National Union (KNU) and the New Mon State Party agreed to a temporary truce during a meeting on Tuesday in Phaya Thone Hsu Township in Kayin State.
Naing Win Hla, a central committee member of NMSP, said the two sides agreed to stop hostilities while looking for a solution to resolve the problem.
“There is a complex misunderstanding between the KNU and NMSP that triggered the clashes, but the conflict was not part of a plan,” he said.
Mon State Security and Border Affairs Minister Col Win Naing Oo, added that the truce was temporary and more talks are required to put an end to the fighting between the two armed ethnic groups.
Clashes between the NMSP and KNU, which are both signatories to the government-initiated Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, have been ongoing for several months, and the latest hostilities erupted on March 4 in Yebyu Township, Tanintharyi Region.
Subsequent clashes between the two sides occurred on March 5 in Mudon Township, Mon State.
There were no reported deaths resulting from the clashes, but there were reports of injuries on both sides. Over 100 families were forced to flee their homes to escape the violence.
The NMSP signed the NCA in February, while the KNLA – the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU) – has been a signatory of the NCA since October 2015.
“We can’t provide details of today’s meeting, but we agreed to stop clashes until we meet again,” said Pado Saw Tardo Hmu, general secretary of the KNU. “We have not set the date yet for the next meeting.”
Naing Win Hla, a central committee member of NMSP, said the two sides agreed to stop hostilities while looking for a solution to resolve the problem.
“There is a complex misunderstanding between the KNU and NMSP that triggered the clashes, but the conflict was not part of a plan,” he said.
Mon State Security and Border Affairs Minister Col Win Naing Oo, added that the truce was temporary and more talks are required to put an end to the fighting between the two armed ethnic groups.
Clashes between the NMSP and KNU, which are both signatories to the government-initiated Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, have been ongoing for several months, and the latest hostilities erupted on March 4 in Yebyu Township, Tanintharyi Region.
Subsequent clashes between the two sides occurred on March 5 in Mudon Township, Mon State.
There were no reported deaths resulting from the clashes, but there were reports of injuries on both sides. Over 100 families were forced to flee their homes to escape the violence.
The NMSP signed the NCA in February, while the KNLA – the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU) – has been a signatory of the NCA since October 2015.
“We can’t provide details of today’s meeting, but we agreed to stop clashes until we meet again,” said Pado Saw Tardo Hmu, general secretary of the KNU. “We have not set the date yet for the next meeting.”