Myanmar, rebels sign ceasefire agreement
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Myanmar鈥檚 government and eight armed ethnic groups signed a ceasefire agreement yesterday, the culmination of more than two years of negotiations aimed at bringing an end to the majority of the country鈥檚 long-running conflicts.
The deal fell short of its nationwide billing, with seven of the 15 armed groups invited declining to sign due to disagreements over who the process should include.
President Thein Sein, a former general, made the nationwide ceasefire a key platform for his reformist agenda after taking power in 2011 and ending nearly 50 years of military rule.
鈥淭he nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) is a historic gift from us to our generations of the future,鈥 Thein Sein said at a signing ceremony attended by hundreds of diplomats, officials and rebel group representatives in the country鈥檚 capital.
鈥淭his is our heritage. The road to future peace in Myanmar is now open.鈥
Thein Sein said he would continue with efforts to convince other groups to join the ceasefire later.
New page in history
Among those that signed was the Karen National Union (KNU), Myanmar鈥檚 oldest armed group. The KNU has fought one of the world鈥檚 longest running conflicts with the Myanmar military spanning nearly 70 years.
鈥淭he NCA is a new page in history and a product of brave and energetic negotiations,鈥 Saw Mutu Say Poe, the chairman of the KNU, said at the ceremony.
Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi did not attend the ceremony.
The United Wa State Army, believed to be the largest and best equipped of the country鈥檚 armed ethnic groups, has remained largely on the sidelines of the peace process since its beginning and did not sign.
Also missing is the Kachin Independence Organization, which controls vast areas of Kachin State, in Myanmar鈥檚 northeast. The group鈥檚 armed wing, the Kachin Independence Army, has clashed regularly with the Myanmar military since 2011, when a 17-year ceasefire between the two broke down.
A spokesman for China鈥檚 Foreign Ministry said that the country 鈥渨elcomes and supports鈥 Myanmar鈥檚 political progress.
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