Myanmar gov't, ethnic groups resume ceasefire talks in Yangon

Negotiators of the Myanmar government and ethnic armed groups resumed their ceasefire talks at the Myanmar Peace Center in Yangon Wednesday in an effort to seek formal signing of a draft nationwide ceasefire accord (NCA).

The three-day formal talks are a follow-up of an informal one held in Chiangmai on July 2-3 between the government and an ethnic armed groups' senior delegation.

The eighth round of ceasefire talks between the government's Union Peace-Making Work Committee (UPWC) and the ethnic groups' senior delegation are expected to focus on the finalization of the NCA, the signing of the draft accord, the role of the signatories and matter of international witnesses as outlined in the Chiangmai talks.

Moreover, the talks are also expected to include negotiations on a set of amendments to the draft NCA by the ethnic side.

The draft NCA was preliminarily signed between the UPWC and the ethnic groups' Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) at the end of March after conclusion of more than one year's negotiation.

The government on its part has indicated readiness to complete the formal signing of the draft NCA as soon as possible once it is adopted by top leadership of the ethnic side.

According to the draft NCA, the formal NCA signing by leaders of both sides is to be further forwarded to the parliament for approval and a framework for political dialogue is also to be drawn.

The peace process began in November 2013 when UPWC and NCCT met in Myitgyina, Kachin state's capital, for the very first time for the nationwide ceasefire talks, while the previous round of talks took place in Yangon in March. Endi