Nay Pyi Taw 'hopeful' of Kachin deal

Thein Sein expressed his hope during a meeting on rural development and socio-economic improvement in Mandalay, central Myanmar, on Sunday. 

Peace has been made with 10 out of 11 ethnic armed groups, the president said, highlighting the importance of peace, stability and national unity in the country. “The government is holding talks politically so as to achieve lasting peace with the KIA [Kachin Independence Army], the political wing of the KIO,” the president said. 

A ceasefire agreement has yet to be reached between the government and KIO although 10 rounds of talks have been held. The date for further talks has not been set after the scheduled talks on April 6 were postponed. 

Ceasefire talks have been delayed and small clashes have occurred between the government army and KIA troops, though it has been two years since fighting renewed on June 9, 2011. 

The Peace Creation Group said the continued fighting could pose a deterrent to the ongoing peace talks and trust-building. 

In the meeting, President Thein Sein also said Myanmar has good prospects for building peace with the ethnic armed groups so rehabilitation tasks are under way for the war victims. 

However, sporadic fighting still occurs between the military and Shan and Kachin armed groups over disputes of troop movements.