Ethnic armed organisations summit begins

A conference of ethnic armed organisations began Tuesday in Law Khee Lah, Kayin State, to seek final approval on a draft peace deal between the groups and the Myanmar government, reported the Global New Light of Myanmar on 3 June.

The Ethnic Armed Organisations Summit from 2-6 June will discuss the draft National Ceasefire Accord approved in late March by the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT), representing 16 ethnic armed groups, and the government’s Union Peace-making Work Committee (UPWC) in Yangon.

Leaders of all ethnic armed groups, including NCCT members and non-members, have been invited to the Law Khee Lah Summit. According to sources, observers from the United Nations, including Mr Vijay Nambiar, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Myanmar, the People’s Republic of China and Nippon Foundation’s Myanmar Liaison Office were present on the first day of the summit.

[Photo: Ethnic armed organisations leaders held summit at KNU headquarters in Law Khee Lah, Kayin State on June 2, 2015. Photograph: Hong Sar/Mizzima]