500 flee homes in Namtu as Shan, Ta’ang armies clash
Most travelled by foot, carrying what possessions they could.
Most travelled by foot, carrying what possessions they could.
A member of the government’s Peace Commission says the United Wa State Army and the National Democratic Alliance Army, the latter also known as the “Mongla group,” accept the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, an accord that the two influential ethnic armed groups had previously spurned.
No less than 112 grooms and 112 brides took nuptial vows and tied the knot in the largest marriage celebration seen in Wa territory for two years.
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Aung Kyi, the head of the Peace Commission, told DVB that they hoped the ethnic rebel alliance would be “involved in the peace process very soon”.
The Burmese units accused various residents of having links to the TNLA or of protecting its soldiers.
“As far as I know, the government is not going to allow them to be represented as an alliance or coalition. It believes no progress can be made if it does so.”
The seven militias say they have formed a committee to negotiate with the government, but will not discuss the NCA.
The United Wa State Army withdrew its troops from the Mongla region this week, signalling the end of a six-month-long standoff with the National Democratic Alliance Army, which controls the autonomous area in northern Shan State.
The unidentified man was found lying dead with a green rucksack on his back containing methamphetamine pills.
Ethnic issues Lead Story News Peace Process
The United Wa State Army is set for its biggest leadership shake-up in a quarter century, senior sources told Reuters, raising the prospect of a period of instability in a group that is key to Aung San Suu Kyi’s signature peace process.
China is extending its considerable influence in Wa State, a self-administered statelet in Burma the size of Belgium
Wa tin likely ends up in an array of products made by US and other international companies, says a new Reuters report.
Since the UWSA did not withdraw from Mongla, the Burmese have sent military aircraft to fly over the Wa bases as an apparent show of force.
Wa leaders say that as part of its push to get rid of poppy, they relocated some 100,000 citizens – a sixth of the population.
According to Shan media, the Wa army sent reinforcements and supplies to hill stations recently seized from the NDAA on 4- 5 October.
Khun Sai, director of Shan think tank Union Institute, suggested the fight could be a Wa incursion in Mongla territory under orders of the UWSA leadership.
It was regrettable to have walked out of the Union Peace Conference yesterday but we felt discriminated against, said the leading delegate of the UWSA.
It was always going to be a hard task in bringing the Wa leaders to the negotiating table. But when they finally did arrive, they did not stay long.
Ethnic issues Lead Story News Peace Process
The spokesperson for the President’s Office confirmed to reporters on Tuesday that the agenda has been agreed for the upcoming talks.
Ethnic issues Lead Story News Peace Process
Last week’s talks in Naypyidaw between the government and the UWSA and NDAA continued at the National Reconciliation and Peace Centre in Rangoon on Monday.
The eight principles are: sovereignty; equality; self-determination; establishment of a genuine federal union; protection of ethnic rights, democratic rights and basic human rights; gender equality; a multi-party democratic system; and secularism.
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A Karenni leader stressed that delegates would aim to reach mutual agreements on behalf of all ethnic armed groups that are working towards a federal system.
“The ethnic leaders delightfully accepted our invitation,” said Khin Zaw Oo, one of the government negotiators tasked with liaising with ethnic armed groups.
The Burmese government’s new chief peace negotiator, Tin Myo Win, is expected to meet in the near future with two of the non-signatories to the ceasefire.
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UWSA leader Bao Youxiang says he is prepared to work with the new government – regardless of which party takes power.
The remaining ethnic armed groups who are signatories to tomorrow’s ceasefire accord are removed from list of ‘unlawful associations and terrorist groups’.
A Chinese embassy spokesman hit out at what he referred to as “other countries who want to damage China’s image by meddling in Sino-Burmese relations.”
Myanmar Peace Centre’s Min Zaw Oo says he had stayed quiet on China’s interference until now, “but it was time to stop whispering”.
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Ethnic armed groups previously frozen out of nationwide ceasefire talks will be offered an opportunity to get on board the peace process.
Ethnic issues Lead Story Logging News Shan
The Wa army and Burmese government officials are expected to meet this week in Naypyidaw to settle an ongoing logging dispute in southern Shan State.