Myanmar gov't, Kachin ethnic armed group meet on ceasefire deal

YANGON - Myanmar government's Peace-Making Work Committee (PMWC) and the Kachin Independence Organization ( KIO) met in Nay Pyi Taw on Sunday for the first time to discuss on a nationwide ceasefire, according to the Myanmar Peace Center.

The PMWC delegation was led by its chairman and Vice President Sai Mauk Kham, while the KIO was headed by its general secretary La Kya and its army deputy chief General Guan Maw.

The Myanmar government called for a prompt nationwide ceasefire so as to hold political dialogue, while the KIO side wanted to put forward a proposal to both President U Thein Sein and Commander-in- Chief of the Defense Services Min Aung Hlaing.

According to U Hla Maung Shwe, an official of the Myanmar Peace Center, KIO and military officials will meet in the capital on Monday to continue their discussions.

The PMWC and ethnic armed groups' Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) are expected to hold their 7th round of peace talks on Tuesday to finalize a draft nationwide ceasefire accord.

The peace talks, originally set for mid-January, were delayed by fresh clashes between the government forces and the Kachin Independence Army.

Meanwhile, on the occasion of the Feb. 12 Myanmar Union Day, the Myanmar government and four ethnic armed groups out of 13 and 55 political parties out of 61 signed a six-point commitment to peace and national reconciliation in Nay Pyi Taw.

However, the KIO, along with Ta'ang National Liberation Army ( TNLA) and Karenni National Progress Party (KNPP), did not sign the deal.

The signatories pledged to finalize a nationwide ceasefire agreement as soon as possible and draw up framework for a political dialogue to be held ahead of the 2015 general election.

The last round of ceasefire talks approved the fourth draft of a ceasefire agreement in September last year.