Burma's ethnic armed groups begin ceasefire summit in Laiza

Eight Kachin women with different cultural suits at opening ceremony of Burma's ethnic armed group conference in Laiza, the capital of Kachin Independence Organization.

Zau Awng, Laiza — The historic summit of Burma's ethnic armed groups focusing on a government-planned national ceasefire pact began on Wednesday in Laiza, headquarters of Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) in Kachin state, northern Burma.

Leaders of sixteen ethnic armed groups from Chin, Kachin, Karen, Karenni, Shan, Mon, Palaung, Pa-O, Wa, Arakan (Rakhine) and Lahu will be expected to reach consensus on Naypyidaw's nationwide ceasefire plan during the three-day conference.

Of the eighteen armed groups invited to participate, all but the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and National Democratic Alliance Army (Mongla) attended the conference, KIO officials confirmed to Kachin News Group.

The KIO submitted a letter to attendees on the opening day of the conference, declaring, “National equality and self-determination for ethnic minorities will not be completely achieved, as well as a federal union, under the controversial 2008 constitution” despite President Thein Sein's ambitious plan to reach an unprecedented nationwide ceasefire.

The KIO, a key member of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), an 11-member alliance of ethnic armed groups, is the only member yet to sign a fresh ceasefire agreement since a government offensive ended the previous 17-year ceasefire on 9 June 2011. The ensuing conflict in Kachin and northern Shan states has since displaced approximately 100,000 civilians, according to the latest UN figures.

While the government aims to achieve a national ceasefire by November 2013, leaders of ethnic armed groups have expressed concern that rejecting Naypyidaw's peace terms might subject them to military attack by government forces.

www.kachinnews.com

www.burmese.kachinnews.com

www.kahcin.kachinnews.com

www.kachin-news.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/Kachin-News-Group