Myanmar gov't invites two ethnic groups to join ceasefire signing

The Myanmar government has invited two special region ethnic armed groups to join the expected signing of the nationwide ceasefire accord (NCA), according to an official report Monday.

The two ethnic armed groups from Wa Special Region-2 and Mongla Special Region-4, Shan state were not among the 15 armed groups that participated in the last series of peace talks with the government.

The invitation was extended by the government's Union Peace Making Work Committee (UPWC) to leaders of the two groups during a meeting in Kengtung, Shan state during the weekend.

In a joint statement released after the meeting, the two groups welcomed the peace process and the draft NCA reached between the government and ethnic armed groups, and pledged to continue constructive negotiations with the government on the implementation of the NCA and ensuing political dialogue.

Wa Special Region-2 and Mongla Special Region-4 are areas where U Pauk Yu Chang-led United Wa State Army (UWSA) and U Sa Lin-led National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) were respectively relocated by the government in 1989 after returning to the legal fold with bilateral ceasefire agreements already inked then.

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

In their negotiation held in Nay Pyi Taw on Sept. 9 following a meeting between President U Thein Sein and nine top leaders of ethnic armed groups, negotiators of both sides made some concessions on the ethnic groups' demand for an all-inclusive deal and agreed in principle to formally sign the NCA in the first week of October, with a specific date yet to be worked out.

During the Sept. 9 talks, the government also reiterated their promise to draw up a political framework within 60 days after the NCA signing, and start a political dialogue within 90 days. Endi