KNU and Burma government to meet in April to formalize ceasefire

The Karen National Union and the Burma government have agreed to meet in early April to formalize and finalize their preliminary ceasefire arrangement that was reached in a meeting on 12th January in the Karen State town of Pa-an.

The KNU general secretary, Naw Zipporah Sein, told Karen News.

“Both sides agreed to meet in early April to continue to talk and to try to reach a concrete cease-fire arrangement. At the moment the date and place have yet to be confirmed.”

On 2nd March, KNU representatives, led by Naw Zipporah Sein, and other high raking KNU executive members P’doh Saw Roger Khin, and military leaders General Mutu Say Poe, Brigadier General Mai Aye Sein, Colonel Saw Htoo Htoo Lay met with the Burmese government representatives in Thailand. The Burma government delegation was led by Railway Minister, U Aung Min, Security and Border Affair Colonel Aung Lwin, and a member of Myanmar Egress, U Kyaw Yin Hlaing, U Lat Maung Shwe. The delegation also included business people – U Ngwe Soe, U Ko Ko Maung and Ma Su.

Naw Zipporah Sein speaking to Karen News said.

“In future talks, we will focus our negotiations on about military matters – the movement of troops, the positioning of troops and security issues.”

Naw Zipporah said that the KNU will include women representatives in future talks between the Karen and Burma government.

“Talks will include the participation of women. The KNU already has a policy for the inclusion of women in the peace talk process. The participation of women has also been urged by the representatives of Karen communities and organizations from around the world.”