Armed ethnic groups to discuss latest ceasefire draft in June

Armed ethnic groups to discuss latest ceasefire draft in June
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KNG

The deputy leader of the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team, Padoh Swe Kwe Htoo Win, speaks on the first day of the latest round of negotiations with the Union Peace-Making Work Committee, at the Myanmar Peace Center in Yangon on May 21. Photo: Hong Sar/Mizzima

Armed ethnic groups to discuss latest ceasefire draft in JuneThe leaders of Myanmar’s armed ethnic groups say they plan to meet in the last week of June to discuss any contentious issues arising from the draft ceasefire agreement reached in talks held in Yangon last week.

The deputy leader of the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team, Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win, told Mizzima on March 25 that the talks will focus on replacing any vague terms in the latest draft accord with clear, unambiguous language.

“We are yet to confirm a location for the meeting, but we have informed the government of our plans and they have offered us any support they can provide,” said Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win.

He said it was unclear whether the planned meeting would be attended by representatives from groups which  are not members of the NCCT,  such as the United Wa State Party, the National Democratic Alliance- Eastern Shan State and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang and the Restoration Council of Shan State.

Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win’s comments came in the aftermath of the draft accord agreed by the NCCT and the government’s Union Peace-Making Work Committee during three days of negotiations at the Myanmar Peace Center.

A joint statement issued by the two sides after the talks ended on May 23 said the negotiations had been “open and friendly”.

The second draft was based on a document agreed by the two sides at talks in Yangon in early April.