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[Lite Beer]

Myanmar govt invites ethnic reps to Yangon in push to confirm ceasefire date

YANGON: -- The Myanmar government has invited representatives from 15 ethnic armed groups to meet in Yangon on Sunday, with the intention of setting a date to sign an elusive nationwide ceasefire pact, The Irrawaddy reported.

President’s Office Minister and chief peace negotiator Aung Min signed a letter sent to the groups on Thursday inviting them to attend the meeting on Sept 20 — the International Day of Peace.

Of the 15 ethnic armed groups, 14 have concluded bilateral ceasefires with the government — the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) being the sole outlier.

Ethnic armed groups plan to meet in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand on September 28-30 to hash out their position on the nationwide ceasefire agreement that has been in the works for almost two years.

During a meeting in Naypyidaw last week, government and ethnic negotiators had pledged to form a joint committee to negotiate the arrangements for a signing ceremony tentatively earmarked for early October.

Hla Maung Shwe of the Myanmar Peace Centre (MPC) said it wasn’t yet clear if all groups would attend the meeting.

Nai Hong Sar, a spokesperson for the ethnics’ Senior Delegation, told reporters after a meeting in Chiang Mai on Friday that each group could make their own determination on whether to attend.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/myanmar-govt-invites-ethnic-reps-to-yangon-in-push-to-confirm-ceasefire-date

-- Thai PBS 2015-09-19