Second round of KIO peace talks planned

“It is most likely we’ll meet with the KIO in the first week of next month. We have to report on situations discussed in Thailand to the president. We have to seek further instructions,” Aung Min said.

The talks will happen only if the KIO accepts the proposal to have another round of meetings. The government would prefer to hold talks inside the country but that would be up to the KIO.

“The first step has been taken. We have already announced reducing attacks. The people from seven areas in Kachin State all said they wanted no war,” he said, referring to a recent survey.

The Union Peace Working Committee and the United Nationalities Federal Council, an alliance of 11 armed ethnic groups, held a second round of peace talks in Chiang Mai last Wednesday.

In a separate meeting with delegation deputy leader La Jar, from the KIO, Aung Min said he would arrange talks between the government and the KIO, as there still was no truce. Progress was reportedly made in previous talks in Thailand when La Jar and Lt Colonel Hsin Wa from the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) also attended.

After their meeting in the Chinese border town of Ruili on February 4, the government peace body and the KIO issued a joint statement saying another round of peace talks would take place before the end of this month.

Fighting between government and KIA troops in the northern state of Kachin has ground to a halt after intense clashes in December and January.