NAYPYITAW, Myanmar, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- The Kachin independence movement in Myanmar said it would scale down its fighting after reaching a peace agreement with the central government.
Myanmar peace negotiator Aung Min said in May Myanmar was removing the Kachin independence group from a list of unlawful organizations. Conflict in the restive northern state of Kachin has overshadowed political reforms made in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, since 2010.
The peace negotiator said Thursday both sides reached an agreement to put an end to the fighting.
"We both agreed on almost every point," he was quoted by Thai newspaper The Irrawaddy as saying. "We have very few disagreements. We will move forward to political dialogue."
The seven-point agreement fell short of a formal cease-fire agreement. Sumlut Gun Maw, deputy chief of staff for the Kachin Independence Army, said the situation on the ground wasn't conducive to an all-out end to the fighting.
"It is [our] policy that we will not sign a ceasefire agreement so long as we feel there is no firm and concrete cease-fire condition on the ground," he said. "That's why we asked for political dialogue instead of a cease-fire agreement."
He added Kachin rebels agreed to reduce the level of fighting after reaching the agreement with the government.
Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/10/11/myanmar-kachin-rebels-broker-truce/
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