The Tatmadaw regime announced on May 30 that it would suspend all military activities from June 1 to 30, “except the period when security and administrative machinery of the government in addition to State defense and administrative measures are attacked and encroached on,” as the junta prepares to reopen basic education schools on June 1.

Sunday’s statement from the Office of the Commander-in-chief said the unilateral ceasefire would be used to facilitate the peace process with ethnic armed groups and to ensure peace of mind for students that will be called back to class for the 2021-22 academic year on June 1.

“During the period when the Tatmadaw further ceases military operations, concerted efforts should be made for restoring the perpetual peace through negotiations,” the statement concluded.

The Peace Process Steering Committee (PPST), which is made up of ethnic armed group signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), has announced that it will suspend peace talks with the State Administration Council after the military’s February 1 coup.

Currently, fighting is escalating in Kayin and Kachin states between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Karen National Union (KNU) and coup regime forces.