The Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT), made up of representatives from 14 ethnic armed groups, is sitting in Chiang Mai from 26 to 28 November to discuss proposals for a ceasefire after decades of conflict with Burmese government forces.

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.

Shan armed rebels, the RCSS, say they will wait until they see the outcome of next month's talks between the Burmese government and ethnic groups before they commits to a nationwide ceasefire.

Ethnic civil rights groups echo UN special adviser Vijay Nambiar's sentiment that this week's round of peace talks in Myitkyina between ethnic groups and the Burmese government were fruitful and bode well for the future.

A multi-ethnic conference kicked off on Wednesday in the Kachin rebel headquarters Laiza, where representatives from Burma’s ethnic rebel groups are gathering to discuss a government proposed nationwide ceasefire.

It is apparent that there still remains a different priority and level of importance between the KIO and the Burmese government for a nationwide ceasefire agreement and political dialogue.