Talks between govt, Kachin rebels and ethnic nationalities likely in late April
Published on Thursday, 18 April 2013 23:19
The Myanmar government is likely to hold talks with the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) and United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) at the end of this month, says an official from the Myanmar Peace Center in Yangon.
Aung Naing Oo from the peace center said a series of talks would be held around the end of this month as bilateral communications and relations had improved remarkably.
He said: "The talks are mostly likely to happen after 24th or 25th this month. A series of talks will take place both with the KIO and UNFC because the government has improved communications and relations with them.
The preliminary peace talks between the government's union level peace working committee and UNFC took place in Thailand's Chiang Mai on February 20. The government also held talks with the KIO in the town of Ruili in China on March 11 and both agreed to meet again before 10 this month.
However, the talks were reportedly rescheduled after 22 this month because some members of the KIO's central committee had made trips and only few representatives would be able to make their presence at the talks.
Although ceasefire agreement has not officially reached between the government and KIO, no major fighting except small clashes occurred after it escalated at the end of last year.
Aung Naing Oo also highlighted the importance of reaching ceasefire agreement with the KIO.
"It is necessary to hold talks to reach ceasefire agreement with the KIO because we have not made it officially. We have had mutual understanding though there are a few small clashes sometimes, Aung Naing Oo said.
The KIO is a member of the UNFC formed with ethnic political parties and armed groups in Myanmar.
Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/04/19/talks-between-govt-kachin-rebels-and-ethnic-nationalities-likely-in-late-april/
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