Myanmar, Kachin rebel group to strengthen peace process

The Myanmar government and the ethnic rebel group Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) Tuesday agreed to ensure non-recurrence of incidents that hinder the peace process as well as mistaken reports of media that spoil understanding between the two sides.

The negotiators of Myanmar's government and the KIO issued a joint statement agreeing to set up a conflict coordination and settlement group as the first phase of implementing the joint monitoring mechanism included in 2013 peace talks, Xinhua quoted the state TV as saying.

The statement, issued in Myitgyina, Kachin state's capital, said Tuesday's talks covered the incidents took place after 2013.

The two sides also agreed to make coordination for future talks.

The government's Central Peace Making Work Committee was headed by its vice chairman U. Aung Min, while the KIO was led by U. Sum Hlut Gam.

The peace talks were attended by the United Nationalities Federation Council (UNFC), other ethnic armed groups as well as UN and Chinese special envoys for Asian affairs as observers.

On their April 8 ceasefire talks in Yangon, the Myanmar government and ethnic rebel groups agreed on presenting the first draft of a nationwide ceasefire agreement for further discussion in the following talks.

The Myanmar government and the KIO Tuesday held their first peace talks after the government offensive against the group launched in April.

Representative of ethnic armed groups' National Ceasefire Coordination Team Pado Saw Kwe Htoo Win said the two-day meeting in Myitgyina would contribute to the national ceasefire talks.

On April 4 and 13, the government forces launched a mop-up operation in three main areas in Kachin state against the KIO, in which eight government soldiers were killed and 16 others injured, while the KIA lost 14 fighters with some arms and ammunition confiscated in the offensive.

The clashes came after the government's Central Peace Making Work Committee and ethnic armed groups' National Ceasefire Coordination Team met in Yangon April 8 for jointly drafting a nationwide ceasefire agreement.