Suu Kyi meets leaders of armed ethnic groups

Gwan Maw, a Maj-General in the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), said Suu Kyi would be invited to join peace talks after the signing of a nationwide ceasefire agreement. “After the deal is sealed, we need political icons like Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to participate in the future peace process. But we won’t be inviting anyone before the time comes,” he told reporters after the meeting.

Along with the KIO, whose armed wing the Kachin Independence Army has been engaged in more than three years of fighting with the Tatmadaw, the deputy chairperson of the New Mon State party, Naing Hantha, Colonel Khun Okkar, chairperson of Pa-Oh National Liberation Organisation, and Htun Zaw of Arakan National Council attended the meeting.

Suu Kyi had a similar meeting with leaders of armed ethnic groups on May 23, but Gwan Maw did not attend.

Naing Hantha, Gwan Maw and Khun Okkar are also leaders of Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team, which represents armed ethnic groups in talks with the Union government for a nationwide ceasefire agreement. The latest round of talks was held from August 15 to 17. A meeting the next day extended the talks to include representatives of more than political parties, including the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party and Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy.