The government and Northern Alliance are still negotiating where to meet as the latter expresses concerns for their safety, but the former guarantees that they would be held responsible for their security, said Zaw Htay, Director-General of State Counsellor Office, who is also the spokesperson of the President Office.

Briefing on Peace Process & Rakhine State was held at the NRPC in Nay Pyi Taw on May 24.

"We met in Muse on April 30 and we proposed three places--Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw and Myitkyina. We will adjust bilateral agreement with Northern Alliance. The Northern Alliance proposed Kunming, Pangsang and Muse. The KIA is okay wherever to meet. Especially, there is concern for AA because a few clashes are taking place. We are worried about that their leaders are coming to the meeting," said Zaw Htay.

The Northern Alliance comprising the KIO/KIA, the TNLA, the MNDAA and the AA and they met with the government peace negotiators in Muse on April 30. At the meeting, each member of the Northern Alliance agreed to continue negotiating for bilateral agreement signing. They decided to meet again to implement the meeting results, but they couldn't decide where to meet.

We asked the heads of Tatmadaw how to provide security for the member of the Northern Alliance. They promised that they would take responsibility for everything of theirs and they guaranteed security.   We proposed Lashio, but they replied that they had trouble. We are still negotiating where to meet, said Zaw Htay.

Translated and Edited by Win Htut