Myanmar: NLD party, ethnic armed groups pledge to build mutual trust

Hanoi (VNA) – Myanmar's National League for Democracy (NLD) party and eight ethnic armed groups have vowed to build mutual trust and understanding as well as join hands in the country’s peace process.

The commitment was made in the first meeting between NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi and heads of eight ethnic armed groups who had signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Accord (NCA).

Speaking at the meeting, Aung San Suu Kyi expressed the NLD party’s support for the peace process.

She said she personally accepted a proposal made by the armed groups to set up a joint committee with the NLD party to continue working for the peace process after the party forms new government in January.

Meanwhile, the final draft political dialogue framework between the government and eight ethnic armed groups, approved by the union-level Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee, was submitted to President U Thein Sein for approval.

Earlier, the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) comprising representatives from the government, ethnic armed groups and political parties drew up the comprehensive political dialogue.

A union peace conference, chaired by the president, is scheduled in January, 2016 ahead of the first round of the formal dialogue on January 13, 2016.

The NLD party won a resounding victory in the November 8 election, securing 886 seats or 77.04 percent at three levels of the parliament.-VNA