Myanmar: Five armed groups out of list of illegal organisations

The scene of the negotiation between the UPWC and the armed ethnic minority groups in Yangon on July 22. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

The Myanmar government removed five more armed groups from its list of illegal organisations, it announced on October 13.

The Karen National Liberation Army Peace Council (KNLA-PC), the Pa-O National Liberation Organisation (PNLO), the Chin National Front (CNF), the Arakan Liberation Party and the Democratic Kayin Buddhist Army (DKBA) were all taken off the list.

The day before the announcement, the government also delisted the Kayin National Union (KNU), the All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF) and the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) .

These eight groups agreed to sign the National Ceasefire Accord (NCA) with the Myanmar government. It is scheduled to take place on October 15 in Myanmar’s capital, Naypyitaw.

On March 31, t he Union Peacemaking Working Committee ( UPWC ) and the Nationwide Ceasefire Co-ordination Team of armed ethnic minority groups signed the preliminary NCA draft after more than a year of negotiation.

Under the preliminary draft, the two sides will form a political framework within 60 days and enter into political dialogues within 90 days.

Myanmar’s peace negotiation process began in November 2003, when the UPWC and the NCCT met in Myitgyina, the capital of Kachin State, making this the first time a national ceasefire accord has come under discussion.

The ninth and last round of negotiations between the UPWC and the NCCT took place in Yangon, Myanmar’s biggest city, in August.-VNA