Govt team ready to negotiate peace with Kachin Independence Organisation

The government delegation led by Aung Min, vice-chairman of the Union Peacemaking Committee, went on a study tour to the Manaw sports ground upon arrival on Sunday. 

The government peace delegation comprises of 44 members including Aung Min and Lt-General Myint Soe of the Defence Ministry. 

Hswan Lut Gan will lead the delegation from the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), though no other details or names have been released yet. KIO sent an initial group on Friday, including young people who are technologically savvy, while the rest of the delegation – comprising 48 members – were to arrive later yesterday. A source from the Kachin Peace Coordination Group (PCG) said the Kachin Independence Army’s deputy commander-in-chief Maj-General Gwan Maw would also be present. 

The last peace negotiation between the government and the KIO was held in Ruili, China on March 11. At that meeting, both sides had agreed to continue holding peace talks until they have achieved a proper ceasefire. 

Though representatives from the United States and Britain will not be able to attend the talks, Vijay Nambiar, UN secretary-general’s special adviser to Myanmar, along with some observers from China and delegates of nine ethnic armed groups will be present, sources said.