Two more Myanmar ethnic armed groups agree to ceasefire

Two more ethnic armed groups in Myanmar have agreed to sign the government's Nationwide Ceasefire Accord (NCA), a joint statement issued by the two parties said on Tuesday.

The pact signed by the New Mon State Party and Lahu Democratic Union already has the support of eight ethnic armed groups. The accord was initiated on October 15, 2015, Xinhua news agency reported.

During their meeting with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services in Nay Pyi Taw, the matters relating to the signing of the NCA and continuing the peace process were discussed.

Suu Kyi told the press that she welcomed the two ethnic armed groups for promising to join hands with the government in the peace process.

Following the initiation of the NCA, the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conferences were held in August 2016 and May 2017 respectively.

The second meeting of the peace conference was able to incorporate a total of 37 adopted principles into a union accord in the country's peace process for the first time in Myanmar's history.

The third meeting of 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference is likely scheduled for next month for a further discussion of fundamental principles on federalism and the formulation of the new principles.

--IANS

nks-soni/mr