Published: 16:34, May 19, 2022 | Updated: 18:07, May 19, 2022
Myanmar's SAC head to hold talks with ethnic armed groups
By Xinhua

Myanmar's State Administration Council's chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing presides over an army parade on Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, March 27, 2021. (PHOTO / AP)

YANGON - Myanmar's State Administration Council's chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing will hold peace talks with 10 ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) on May 20, the council's spokesperson Zaw Min Tun said on Thursday.

Seven ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) that are signatories to Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement and three non-signatory EAOs registered to attend the peace talks with Min Aung Hlaing, the spokesperson reaffirmed at the press conference

"We will hold the peace talks tomorrow, May 20," Zaw Min Tun said during the council's 14th press conference on Thursday.

Seven EAOs that are signatories to Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and three non-signatory EAOs registered to attend the peace talks with Min Aung Hlaing, the spokesperson reaffirmed at the press conference.

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The seven NCA-signatory EAOs registered for the peace talks are the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA), Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), the KNU/KNLA Peace Council, New Mon State Party (NMSP), Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), Pa-Oh National Liberation Organization (PNLO), and the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), Zaw Min Tun said.

The three NCA non-signatory EAOs registered to attend the peace talks are United Wa State Army (UWSA), National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA-Mongla) and Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP), he added.

In Myanmar, 10 ethnic armed groups have so far signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement with the government since it was initiated in October 2015.

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The state power of Myanmar was transferred to Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing after the declaration of the state of emergency in February last year