Myanmar ethnic leaders seek approval of preliminarily signed ceasefire pact

by Feng Yingqiu

YANGON, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Ethnic leaders in Myanmar are due to begin a summit in Pansai, the self-administered zone of the Wa ethnic group in Shan state, later Friday to discuss and seek adoption of a draft nationwide ceasefire accord (NCA) preliminarily signed between peace negotiators of the government and ethnic armed groups in March.

The summit, participated by leaders of 12 invited armed groups, is expected to last for six days.

Pansai is the headquarters of the ethnic United Wa State Army.

The government's Union Peace-Making Work Committee (UPWC) and the ethnic armed groups' Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team ( NCCT) concluded more than one year's negotiation on the NCA on March 30 and the finalized draft accord was preliminarily signed in Yangon on March 31. The draft NCA is yet to be formally signed after approval from top leadership of both sides.

The venue, date and signatories are yet to be designated through coordination of the two sides.

The NCA, once formally signed, is set to be further forwarded to the parliament for approval and a framework for political dialogue is to be drawn within 60 days.

The two sides had pledged to reduce conflict and cooperate to ensure non-recurrence of armed clashes during the implementation of the peace process.

However, heavy fighting broke out between the government forces and the Kokang ethnic army from February to April even during the water festival period. The government side has claimed total control of the Kokang region including its capital Laukkai despite sporadic clashes.

The peace process began in November 2013 when UPWC and NCCT met in Myitgyina, capital of Kachin state in northern Myanmar, for the first time and the final round of nationwide ceasefire talks lasted from March 17 to 30 in Yangon.

On the sidelines of the talks, leaders of the ethnic armed groups also held their summits for three times.

The government, which took office in March 2011, has vigorously pushed the process of national reconciliation, having realized ceasefire with over a dozen ethnic armed groups individually. It now seeks nationwide ceasefire and political dialogue for lasting peace in the country.

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/myanmar-ethnic-leaders-seek-approval-of-preliminarily-signed-ceasefire-pact/