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Ceasefire talks a 'window of opportunity'

Government offer to ethnic opposition leaders 'just might signal progress'
Ceasefire talks a 'window of opportunity'
The Ethnic Nationalities Council (Union of Burma) launching a new report today in Chiang Mai
Published: November 02, 2011 09:23 AM GMT
Updated: November 02, 2011 09:26 AM GMT

The Myanmar government’s offer of ceasefire talks with ethnic opposition groups presents a small window of opportunity for political dialogue amid ongoing conflicts, ethnic leaders said today. Both sides want to resolve ongoing conflicts between the military and armed ethnic groups, which have gone on for more than 60 years, said Lian Sakhong, vice chairman of the Ethnic Nationalities Council (Union of Burma - ENC). “We welcome the offer,” Lian said, referring to President Thein Sein’s invitation to all ethnic minorities for peace talks in August this year. He clarified, however, that “this is not yet a political dialogue but just ceasefire talks. What is most important is that these ceasefire talks be quickly transformed into political dialogue” to address the deep-rooted issues of discrimination and corruption. He added that the offer was “a window of opportunity, though a small one.” Lian made his remarks during a speech today at the launch of a report by the ENC in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Sui Khar, ENC secretary general, said the conflicts between the Myanmar armed forces and the ethnic minority groups are not primarily between democracy and dictatorship but over deep-seated issues of discrimination and corruption. Lian said the process of political dialogue to build a genuine federal union, agreed upon in principle in 1947, was a long one. He further noted that the Myanmar government was engaged in a “twin process” of democratization on the one hand and militarization on the other. This “mutually opposing” process, Lian said, would make any resolution difficult. “But we hope democratization will prevail and ethnic minorities are ready to engage in dialogue.”

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