Peace process will be govt's priority, says Suu Kyi

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Peace process will be govt's priority, says Suu Kyi



YANGON: -- National League for Democracy's Aung San Suu Kyi said on Monday to mark Independence Day that the country’s peace process will be the first priority of her new government that will take power later this year, The Irrawaddy reported.

The Myanmar government signed a ceasefire in October, but the deal fell short of its nationwide billing, with seven of 15 groups invited declining to sign, including some of the most powerful. Fighting has since flared in eastern parts of the country between the military, non-signatories and groups that did not take part in the negotiations.

In her speech to mark Independence Day, Suu Kyi said: “The peace process is the first thing the new government will work on. We will try for the all-inclusive ceasefire agreement.” “We can do nothing without peace in our country,” she added.

Suu Kyi spurned the government-lead peace talks that President Thein Sein touted as a major achievement of his semi-civilian administration, which took power in 2011, ending 49 years of direct military rule.

The next step in the peace process, a political dialogue with the eight groups that signed, is set to begin on Jan 12.

The NLD-led government will take power in March following a presidential election expected to take place in February, but the military will remain a powerful political force.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/peace-process-will-be-govts-priority-says-suu-kyi


-- Thai PBS 2016-01-05