Seven groups agree to sign ceasefire
Seven ethnic armed groups have reportedly decided at the summit currently being held in Chiang Mai to sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement.
Padoh Saw Kwal Htoo Win, general secretary of Karen National Union and a member of the groups’ senior delegation, said the last day of the summit would confirm the groups which would sign the deal and how to cooperate between those groups and the non-participants after the agreement was signed.
He said: “Seven groups are ready to sign and others will follow. Some will do it only when all parties involved have signed while some still need preparation.
“The KNU will sign it. All Karen groups will sign. I don’t know about the others. The KNU is continuing cooperation with others in the ceasefire and peace-building process.”
The seven groups are the KNU, Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, Karen National Liberation Army, Chin National Front, Arakan Liberation Party, All Burma Students' Democratic Front and Pa’o National Liberation Organisation.
The Shan State Army has declared an intention to sign but ongoing clashes with the government might prevent this.
A “joint-implementation coordination meeting” is due to be held 14 days after signing the ceasefire to form a joint-monitoring committee and a peace development committee to ensure the deal’s success.
Both committees should be formed within 30 days of the ceasefire being signed.
The basic principles for holding political talks are due to be established within 60 days of the signing of the ceasefire.
A government representative said the ceasefire should be signed this month with political talks held by January 2016.
