Representatives of 53 political parties met in Rangoon on 13-14 September to discuss the framework for forthcoming political dialogue between Burma’s ethnic armed groups and the central government.

Several political parties in Burma have reacted with frustration to the election commission’s decision to cancel by-elections this year, while others -- notably the NLD -- shrugged off the polls as unnecessary and 'a burden'.

The United Nationalities Federal Council, an umbrella organisation of ethnic armed groups, is to hold an official meeting with the National League for Democracy and other Burmese pro-democracy groups for the first time.

Ethnic and government negotiators report positive steps taken during Rangoon peace talks.

With by-elections due across Burma by year’s end, several political parties have noted an interest in fielding candidates in the vacant constituencies of Kachin State, where previous elections were cancelled due to ongoing conflict.

DVB’s Shwe Aung speaks to Saw Than Myint, co-founder of the multi-ethnic Federal Union Party (FUP) and spokesperson for the Nationalities Brotherhood Federation (NBF), about the history of the two parties and their vision for the coming elections.