The Northern Alliance issued a statement on December 27 promising to halt their military activities if Myanmar's military ceased operations in all military commands and offering to hold talks in China.
The alliance is formed with Kachin Independence Organization/Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA), Lalaung State Liberation Front/Ta'ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA), Myanmar National Truth and Justice Party/Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNTJP/MNDAA) and United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA).
Top leaders of those ethnic armed groups held a meeting on December 27 to discuss the statement on ceasefire and permanent peace issued by the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services on December 21.
The talks will involve the government, the military and the four ethnic groups belonging to Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee. The statement says witnesses will also be invited to attend the meeting to be held in China.
In the statement, they demand a simultaneous halt to military operations in all military commands and a prompt cessation of the military's offensive against ULA/AA in Rakhine State. The statement points out that the Northern Alliance will guarantee a cessation of their attacks only if the military meets the above demands.
