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The Shan State Army-North last week became the latest ethnic armed group to sign a ceasefire deal with the Burmese government after several rounds of negotiations over the past month.
Officials from the group met with a government delegation on Saturday in Taunggyi, the capital of Shan state. A key area of contention for many of Burma’s ethnic armies, that of territory allocation, was reportedly agreed upon during the talks, although specific details have not be made public.
Burma’s government has secured another tentative truce with ethnic rebels, this time in the country’s south east where officials from the New Mon State Party (NMSP) this morning agreed to an initial deal that could pave the way for a ceasefire.
The two sides have been in talks over the past month, but today’s decision is the strongest signal yet that a ceasefire is on the cards. Saw Hla Maung Shwe, who has acted as a broker for Naypyidaw’s Internal Peace Making Committee, told DVB that additional negotiations would take place.
At least 35 terrorists were killed in a gun-battle after a newly-established security checkpost was attacked in Kurram Agency, also leaving eight soldiers killed and scores of others injured, a military statement said on Tuesday.
Over 100 terrorists attacked the post in Jogi heights of Kurram Agency, damaging the post badly, sources told Daily Times, wishing not to be named. The attack took place in the morning.
Less than a week after peace talks between the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and the Burmese government ended unsuccessfully, the Burmese army began a large scale troop redeployment, sending fresh soldiers to relieve those already based at the Kachin frontlines, the Kachin News Group learned.
Troops from Light Infantry Division No. 99 based in Meiktila in Mandalay division, who were fighting the Kachin Independence Army’s battalion 1, 12 and 27 in the Manwin, Nam Hkam and Manje area, were recently replaced with fresh troops from Military Operation Command (MOC) No. 1 based in Kyaukme and MOC No. 16 based in Theinni (or Hsenwi), said a senior official from the KIA.
From guns to roses, life for close to 700 militants from nine separatist groups in Assam turned full circle on Tuesday when they laid down arms to join the mainstream in the presence of Union home minister P Chidambaram.
In one of northeast India’s biggest surrender ceremonies in Assam’s main city of Guwahati, a total of 676 militants laid down weapons and in return received roses from the home minister.
“Leave the past behind and look at the future positively. We assure that each one of you would be treated equally and be able to lead a life of dignity and honour,” Chidambaram said.
The nine groups are part of two major ethnic groups - the tribal Kukis in eastern Assam and the Adivasis inhabiting the northern and western parts of Assam.
Among the major groups that surrendered were the Kuki Revolutionary Army, the Hmar People’s Convention, the Birsa Commando Force, and the Adivasi Cobra Militant of Assam.