Myanmar government and militant leaders meet to expand tentative ceasefire accord
Leaders of Myanmar’s many militant factions and government representatives will meet in Panglong today for peace talks. They will attempt yet again to resolve the multifaceted civil war that has been fought in the Southeast Asian nation since 1948.
The focus of discussions will be on the Nationwide Ceasefire Accord (NCA). The October 2015 accord, which had initially accumulated the signatures of only eight non-combatant political factions, made history in February when the first two armed factions agreed to join.
At their last meeting in April, the NCA parties advanced on the idea of including a third faction that has taken up arms, the Kayinni National Progressive Party (KNPP).
The NCA talks continue to prove their promise in advancing the country’s peace process. Every armed faction that becomes party to the agreement reduces the number of active fighters operating throughout the country.
Expect the KNPP to officially sign the NCA today, further increasing the agreement’s legitimacy as yet another armed faction joins what shows promise as a viable framework for peace in the war-weary country.
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