Myanmar ethnic leaders to seek final approval of preliminarily signed ceasefire pact

Myanmar ethnic leaders are to begin an ethnic conference in Lawkheelah in southeastern Kayin state in early June to seek final approval of a draft nationwide ceasefire accord (NCA) preliminarily signed between peace negotiators of the government and ethnic armed groups on March 31, official media reported Saturday.

Leaders of all ethnic armed groups, including Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) members and non-NCCT members, are expected to be present at the Lawkheelah Summit, said the Global New Light of Myanmar, quoting Daw Saw Mya Yazar Lin, one of the ethnic peace negotiators.

Prior to seeking final approval on the deal from all ethnic leaders, the NCCT is set to meet in Chiang Mai from May 25 to 27, aimed at preparing the submission of a draft NCA to ethnic leaders at the planned summit and discussing the current political affairs in the country, matters related to the team and recent fighting between the government forces and some ethnic armed groups.

The five-day ethnic conference, set to take place on June 2, will be a follow-up of a six-day summit of ethnic armed groups, sponsored by the United Wa State Army (UWSA) in Panghsang, the self-administered zone of the Wa ethnic group in northern Shan state, from May 1 to 6, during which adoption of the principally- signed draft nationwide ceasefire accord was sought.

The early May ethnic summit conference, in a 12-point statement, called for settlement of domestic conflict through political means, proposing the holding of political dialogue with the government inclusive of all ethnic armed groups. Endi