Four ethnic armed groups from the northern alliance are choosing a venue to hold a meeting with the government to sign a bilateral ceasefire agreement, said Lamai Khun Jar from Peace-talk Creation Group (PCG).

The government proposed to the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and Arakan Army (AA) to resume a meeting in Kengtong, eastern Shan State and Myitkyina, Kachin State to sign the bilateral ceasefire agreement in last December.

The government and representatives from the four ethnic armed groups met at Kengtong in September 2019 and Tun Tun Oo, Union Attorney-General and senior military leaders attended the meeting to sign the bilateral ceasefire agreement. However the representatives of four ethnic armed groups said they have to inform the subjects discussed in the meeting to their leaders so the bilateral ceasefire agreement cannot be signed.

After that, the meeting between the government and four northern alliance members held informal meetings in China and although the government tried to hold a meeting with them in 2020, the meeting was stalled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

In the meantime, a fight between the army and AA broke out in Rakhine State and the fighting has ceased in the state since early November after Japan made a negotiation. Leaders from both sides held meetings via online.

The government is ready to negotiate with the northern alliance and they are waiting for the response from them, said Zaw Htay, spokesperson of the President Office on January 8 in a press conference held in Nay Pyi Taw.

He said the government will sign the bilateral ceasefire agreement with each group and the issues related with war refugees, developments in the areas and elections which cannot be held in conflict areas.

Moreover the issue about how to sustain the ceasefire will be included in the agreement and both sides will be discussed to have the agreements to avoid confrontation. The conflict resolution will be included if one party violated the agreement, he said.

The government will sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) after the four ethnic armed groups signed the bilateral ceasefire agreement and negotiation to sign the NCA is finished, he added.