Myanmar: Two more ethnic groups to sign ceasefire agreement

The Myanmar government has invited two armed ethnic minority groups to sign the national ceasefire agreement (NCA), according to an official announcement on September 14.

The Myanmar government has invited two armed ethnic minority groups to sign the national ceasefire agreement (NCA), according to an official announcement on September 14.

Myanmar President U Thein Sein speaks during a meeting with opposition leaders.

The groups come from Special Zone 2 Wa and Special Zone 4 Mongla in the Shan state and are not among 15 armed groups engaged in the most recent talks with the government.

The Union Peacemaking Working Committee ( UPWC ) sent invitations to the leaders of the two groups in a meeting in Kengtung town in the Shan state last weekend.

In a joint statement after the meeting, the two groups welcomed the peaceful process and the draft NCA achieved between the government and armed ethnic minority groups.

They also pledged to maintain their presence in constructive negotiations with the government on the implementation of the NCA as well as subsiquent political dialogue.