Ceasefire

Of three new union level committees set up after the ceasefire agreement was signed, only three out of 96 members are women. None are from the government. YANGON (Myanmar Now) – Women have been consistently excluded from Myanmar’s peace negotiations and their continued absence could undermine the success of the talks aimed at ending long-running ethnic conflicts that have displaced…

The Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement signing ceremony on Oct 15 was Thein Sein’s big chance to add some much-needed credence to the national elections to be held next Sunday. But despite Thein Sein and Gen Mutu Sae Po’s optimism, not everyone is convinced the NCA will bring stability to the country. In fact, ethnic groups say fighting continues unabated, killing civilians…

Despite its concerns about continuing fighting between the Burma Army and Shan and Kachin armed groups the United States released a statement praising the signing of a Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement between the government and eight armed groups. The United States in a statement released on 15 October by its spokesperson, John Kirby said that the “signing of the text of…

Villagers from villages along Eastern Donna Range gathered at Htee Mae Wah Kee village in Myawaddy Township on October 4th to show their support for the three Karen armed groups who have decided to sign the ceasefire agreement with the government. The Karen armed groups – Karen National Union (KNU), Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) and KNU/KNLA – Peace Council…

More than forty Karen organizations issued a statement critical of the Karen National Union after it had decided to sign a Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement with the government that excluded the majority of ethnic armed groups. Seven ethnic armed organizations, including the Karen National Union, decided to go ahead and sign the NCA with the government without the full support of…

A statement released by the United Nationalities Federal Council has warned that ongoing conflict in Burma’s Kachin and Shan States is blocking negotiations for a nationwide ceasefire agreement. The UNFC noted that it had held at least 27 meetings with the Burma Government over the last two years to set a framework national agreement, without success. “UNFC sees that in…

Karen community groups claim the Karen National Union is ignoring their concerns about the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement with the government. The claims came at a meeting 15 community-based Karen groups had with the KNU leaders to discuss the nationwide ceasefire agreement. The meeting held at Lay Wah in Hlaingbwe Township on August 31 between KNU representatives and the Karen groups…

David Tharckabaw, head of the Karen National Unions Alliance Affairs, in an exclusive interview with Karen News, explains why he is opposed to the current Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement that he believes will deliver little for the majority of ethnic people and only benefit a few people. Mr Tharckabaw said he was not against a nationwide ceasefire that was in the…

Karen community-based organizations have issued media statements raising concerns about the recent decision of the Karen National Union to sign a Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement with the Burma government. The Karen Peace Support Network (KNSP), a coalition of community based groups and the International Karen Organization (IKO) both sent open letters to KNU expressing their alarm that it had taken the…

The ethnic armed organizations representatives have reached the end of the nationwide ceasefire agreement process following a three-day meeting in the Thai Northern city of Chiang Mai. The meeting held from August 21 to 24 resulted in the appointment of a new delegation of eight members to meet with President U Thein Sein and General Min Aung Hlaing in Nay…