Myanmar Govt to hold peace talks with armed ethnic groups of Kokang

The Myanmar government is planning to hold peace talks with the three armed ethnic groups from the Kokang region that had been excluded from last year's nationwide ceasefire agreement between the government and armed groups, according to government peace negotiator U Hla Maung Shwe.

The three groups have been fighting the Myanmar Armed Forces, Tatmadaw, since February last year, reports the Myanmar Times.

"The government will meet with the groups this month, finding ways to include them in the peace process," said Shwe.

Individuals involved in the peace process revealed that the government had met with the three groups - the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Arakan Army - in a sideline meeting while it was negotiating with the Mongla armed group, also known as the National Democratic Alliance Army, and the United Wa State Army last month.

"Our discussion included the second sub-committee's meeting with the United Nationalities Federal Council [UNFC] in Chiang Mai, with the Delegation for Political Negotiation, talks with the Wa and the Mongla, sideline talks with the TNLA and MNDAA, and preparation for talks with the eight signatory armed ethnic groups," said U Khat Htein Nang, a member of the first peace sub-committee.

Reportedly, the Tatmadaw wants the three non-signatory ethnic armed groups to issue statements declaring that they have surrendered their arms and vowing their commitment to participate in the peace process.

The former government and the Tatmadaw refused to include the three allies in the peace process last year after the fighting broke out in February.

A meeting between the UNFC ethnic armed bloc and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is also to be held in the third week of July.