President promises "nationwide ceasefire" with rebels
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Myanmar President Thein Sein said Wednesday a "nationwide ceasefire" will soon be concluded with all of the country's armed ethnic insurgent groups.
Our government has signed ceasefire agreements with 13 ethnic armed groups," he said. "We believe we can sign a nationwide ceasefire with all ethnic armed groups soon."
Thein Sein, a former army general who has presided over a series of dramatic reforms since taking office after a general election in2010, gave no exact timetable for the peace deal.
Aun Min, leader of the government's peace negotiating team, said a comprehensive peace could be signed "within three or four months."
He said only one major rebel group, the Kachin Independence Organization, has yet to sign a ceasefire, but has agreed to engage in a political dialogue with the government.
Myanmar has been in an almost constant state of internal warfare since the country won independence from Britain in 1948, with a wide range of ethnic-based rebel groups fighting for independence or some degree of autonomy.
