Myanmar: Aung Sang Suu Kyi address peace talks
Euronews

MYANMAR -- Aung San Suu Kyi has addressed an influential gathering of representatives of ethnic armed groups, the military and politicians in Myanmar.

The talks are about a ceasefire to end the insurgencies that have plagued the country for decades.

“Based on the mandate, it is right to do what the people want us to do. We are ready to take the responsibility of building peace forever in the country. I hope everyone will help us.” Suu Kyi told the audience.

Outgoing President Thein Sein signed a peace deal in October.

However, seven of the 15 armed groups invited to participate, including some of the most powerful, declined to sign.

Suu Kyi snubbed the government-led process.

The latest talks in the capital, Naypyitaw, are not expected to end in a concrete deal.

It is hoped, however, they will establish a framework for negotiations once the National League for Democracy takes power.

It is hoped Suu Kyi’s international standing and mandate will help her bridge areas of disagreement with the country’s powerful military.

Suu Kyi’s NLD won an historic election victory in November.

The party will not take power until March, however, with a presidential election a month earlier.

Some have questioned the timing of the talks, coming a few months before a change of government.

Source: http://www.euronews.com/2016/01/12/myanmar-aung-sang-suu-kyi-address-peace-talks/

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-01-12

Political dialogue begins in Myanmar's capital



YANGON: -- A five-day Union Peace Conference kicked off in Naypyidaw on Tuesday, marking the beginning of a long-sought political dialogue between the Myanmar government and a fraction of the country’s ethnic armed groups, The Irrawaddy reported.

The government reached what it has termed a nationwide ceasefire agreement with eight of more than 20 non-state armed groups on Oct 15, stipulating that political talks commence within 90 days.

The majority of the country’s armed groups abstained from the deal, and while they were invited to attend the talks as observers, all of the non-signatories declined. The event was, however, portrayed by the Thein Sein administration as a milestone in the peace process.

Thein Sein said one purpose of this week’s conference was to ease the handover of the peace process to the incoming government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide victory in a Nov 8 general election, and is to form the new government that will assume power in February. The NLD chairwoman has stated that the new administration will make the peace process its top priority.

In her remarks, Suu Kyi stressed the importance of national unity despite shortcomings of the current peace agreement, emphasizing that it is important “not to have division between those signed and those who not” and suggesting that the framework for political dialogue be “flexible.”

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/political-dialogue-begins-in-myanmar-s-capital

-- Thai PBS 2016-01-13