Myanmar president pushes peace plan

AFP, YANGON: Myanmar’s President Thein Sein met ethnic rebel peace negotiators for the first time in the capital Naypyidaw Wednesday in an effort to secure a long-awaited nationwide ceasefire before looming November elections.
More than two years of negotiations aimed at bringing an end to decades of civil wars in Myanmar’s rugged borderlands have seen the government bring together ethnic minority rebels and the feared army to thrash out a peace process framework.
But while the talks have produced a ceasefire document—seen as a historic first step in the peace process—they have stuttered on lingering mistrust and disagreements on whether a deal should include all rebel groups.
Observers say Thein Sein is eager to sign the ceasefire deal and cement his legacy as a peacemaker before the November 8 polls, which are set to redraw the political landscape with expectations of huge gains by Aung San Suu Kyi’s opposition.
“Whether the groups sign or not, the president will meet them and the military will talk to them again. I think the government is just hoping to build confidence,” said Hla Maung Shwe, a senior member of negotiating team at the Myanmar Peace Centre.
Myanmar’s government has agreed to allow 15 ethnic armed groups to sign the deal.
But a consortium of rebels has insisted that the agreement should include half a dozen groups which the government has rejected. Some of those rebel groups are still actively fighting the military.
Nine leaders from top ethnic rebel groups were present at the Naypyidaw talks, including from the political wing of the Kachin Independence Army—one of the country’s largest rebel armies.
But Myanmar’s powerful military has sent only lower ranking representatives to the Naypyidaw talks.

Myanmar president pushes peace plan

AFP, YANGON: Myanmars President Thein Sein met ethnic rebel peace negotiators for the first time in the capital Naypyidaw Wednesday in an effort to secure a long-awaited nationwide ceasefire before looming November elections. More than two years of negotiations aimed at bringing an end to decades of civil wars in Myanmars rugged borderlands have seen the government bring together ethnic minority rebels and the feared army to thrash out a peace process framework. But while the talks have produced a ceasefire documentseen as a historic first step in the peace processthey have stuttered on lingering mistrust and disagreements on whether a deal should include all rebel groups. Observers say Thein Sein is eager to sign the ceasefire deal and cement his legacy as a peacemaker before the November 8 polls, which are set to redraw the political landscape with expectations of huge gains by Aung San Suu Kyis opposition. Whether the groups sign or not, the president will meet them and the military will talk to them again. I think the government is just hoping to build confidence, said Hla Maung Shwe, a senior member of negotiating team at the Myanmar Peace Centre. Myanmars government has agreed to allow 15 ethnic armed groups to sign the deal. But a consortium of rebels has insisted that the agreement should include half a dozen groups which the government has rejected. Some of those rebel groups are still actively fighting the military. Nine leaders from top ethnic rebel groups were present at the Naypyidaw talks, including from the political wing of the Kachin Independence Armyone of the countrys largest rebel armies. But Myanmars powerful military has sent only lower ranking representatives to the Naypyidaw talks.