Representatives of Burma's main political parties, though not the USDP, sit for talks with officials of ethnic armed groups at a historic meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where they are due to discuss the peace process, the ceasefire agreement and federalism.

Speaking at meeting with Kachin community members in Rangoon on Wednesday, the vice chief of staff of the Kachin Independence Army, Gun Maw Sumlat, stressed the importance of public participation in Burma’s ongoing peace process.

President’s Office Minister Aung Min has said that if Burma becomes a federal union, it will inevitably need to adopt a federal constitution and establish a federal army.

The controversial China-backed Shwe Gas project sets a bad example for future investments in Burma’s extractive industries and should be suspended pending genuine regulatory reforms, a new report said on Monday.

Representatives of ethnic minorities including the Shan, Karen, Chin, Mon and Karenni will hold a trust-building conference in September to discus aspects of democracy, federalism and changes to the 2008 constitution.

Karenni rebels and government peace negotiators have agreed to begin resettling some of the thousands of people displaced by years of ethnic conflict in eastern Burma, at a landmark meeting on Wednesday