Myanmar, Kachin rebels agree ceasefire

The Myanmar Government on May 30 reached a preliminary ceasefire deal with the Kachin Independent Organisation (Kachin, KIO) - the political branch of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) - after almost two years of violence.
The Myanmar Government on May 30 reached a preliminary ceasefire dealwith the Kachin Independent Organisation (Kachin, KIO) - the politicalbranch of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) - after almost twoyears of violence.

According to Min Zaw Oo,director of the EU-funded Myanmar Peace Centre, who took part in thenegotiations in the Kachin State capital Myitkyina, MyanmarGovernment and KIO representatives signed a seven-point plan, including avow to end hostilities.

The two sides would stop fighting and discuss in details the repositioning of troops, he said.

The three-day talks are the first meeting between the two sides heldinside Myanmar. Previous rounds of negotiations were held inThailand and China.

The peace talks wereconducted after the Myanmar Government unilaterally ended fighting inJanuary to seek a solution to the clashes in Kachin which havedisplaced nearly 100,000 people since June, 2011.

UNSecretary General’s special adviser on Myanmar, Vijay Nambiar, alsojoined the talks, along with representatives of Chinese and otherethnic minorities.

Meanwhile, some 25 suspectshave been arrested in Lashio town in the country’s northern Shan statesince a riot was sparked in the town on May 28, causing the death of atleast one person, an official source has said.

A curfew was imposed on the evening of May 28 to restore order in the locality.-VNA

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