Armed ethnic groups call for end to military offensives

04 November 2015
Armed ethnic groups call for end to military offensives
Panghsang, eastern Shan State of Myanmar Photo: zhangrd/panoramio

The leaders of 11 armed ethnic groups that did not sign a nationwide ceasefire accord with the government last month have called for an end to military offensives in the country during a three-day summit Radio Free Asia reported on 3 November.
The summit, held at the headquarters of the United Wa State Army — Myanmar’s largest ethnic rebel group — in Panghsang, Wa Special Region, ended Tuesday with the groups issuing a seven-point statement urging the government army to stop its offensives in the northern and eastern parts of the country. 
Clashes between government troops and ethnic armies have forced tens of thousands of villagers to flee their homes and resulted in casualties among government soldiers and rebel troops. 
Besides the UWSA, the others groups that participated in the summit in eastern Shan state included the Kachin Independence Organization, Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army, New Mon State Party, Karenni National Progressive Party, National Democratic Alliance Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Arakan Army (AA), Karen National Defence Organization and Kayan New Land Party.