Peace talks between the government delegation and four ethnic armed groups from northern alliance are to sign a bilateral agreement and to extend unilateral ceasefire period will be held today at Amazing Kengtong resort in eastern Shan State.

The National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC) delegation led by its vice chairman Union Attorney General Tun Tun Oo and the delegation members are vice chairman Thein Zaw of Peace Commission, the commission secretary Lt-Gen Khin Zaw Oo (retired), Director General Zaw Htay from Ministry of State Counsellor’s Office, senior military officers led by Lt-Gen Yar Pyae.

The NRPC delegation including senior military officers arrived in Kengtong via Nay Pyi Taw with a military aircraft on September 16.

Representatives of northern alliance will be arrived in Kengtong via Mongla today. They arrived in Mongla, No.4 special region of eastern Shan State, on September 16.

Four ethnic armed groups from northern alliance: Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDA) and Arakan Army (AA), are negotiating with the government to sign a bilateral agreement and although the army and three ethnic armed groups announced unilateral ceasefire agreement separately, the army and TNLA force had clashed in northern Shan State recently.

“Whatever the peace talk is, it is important as the government representatives and army representatives arrived here. Representatives of four ethnic armed groups are also arrived in Mongla,” said La Mai Gun Jar from the Kachin-based Peace-talk Creation Group (PCG).

The NRPC offered to extend the peace talk period if it is a convenience for all, he said.

The northern alliance requested the NRPC to invite army representatives in the peace talk held on August 31 at Kengtong.

“The discussion about military affairs is important and we have to make negotiation to put both forces in position. We hoped that the army delegations will be included in the peace talk this time and both sides can discuss about military affairs,” he said.

The extension of unilateral ceasefire period announced by the army is based on the outcome of the meeting.

If the outcome is not satisfactory, it will put the peace talk in a dangerous situation a little, said Zaw Htay, Spokesperson of President Office in a press conference held at the Presidential Palace on September 13.

The decision to sign bilateral agreement from four ethnic armed groups of northern alliance may come out in this meeting and it will be reached into a situation to set the time to sign the agreement.