Myanmar gov't, ethnic groups set to resume ceasefire talks in Yangon

by Feng Yingqiu

YANGON, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Negotiators of Myanmar government and ethnic armed groups have been set to resume their formal talks at the Myanmar Peace Center in Yangon next Wednesday on seeking formal signing of a draft nationwide ceasefire accord (NCA).

The two-day fresh talks will be a follow-up of an informal one held in Chiangmai on July 2-3 between the government's Myanmar Peace Center and ethnic armed organization's senior delegation.

The 8th round of ceasefire talks between the government's Union Peace-Making Work Committee (UPWC) and the ethnic armed group's senior delegation is expected to focus on finalization of the NCA, all-inclusive in the signing, the role of the signatories and matter of international witnesses as outlined in the Chiangmai talks.

In the Chiangmai talks, the government side proposed signing of the NCA with 15 armed groups first and the others to be followed later.

In the upcoming Wednesday's resumed talks, the government delegation will be led by its Vice Chairman and Minister at the President's Office U Aung Min, while the EAO's senior delegation be headed by Naw Zipporah Sein, Vice Chairman of Karen National Union (KNU).

Invitations are being extended to the United Nations Special Envoy and the Special Envoy of China on Asian Affairs to attend the resumed talks as observers.

Government negotiator of the Myanmar Peace Center U Hla Maung Shwe disclosed that there will be negotiation also on a set of amendment to the draft NCA by the ethnic side.

The 15-member ethnic new negotiator was formed at the last ethnic summit conference in Law Khee Lar, Kayin state, held on June 9 and was assigned to further deal with the government.

That ethnic summit rejected the signing of the NCA until further amendment, insisting that all armed groups be included in the signing process.

The draft NCA was preliminarily signed between the government's Union Peace-Making Work Committee (UPWC) and the ethnic groups' Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) at the end of March after conclusion of more than one year's negotiation on the NCA.

The government on its part has indicated readiness to complete the formal signing over the draft NCA as soon as possible once it is adopted by top leadership of the ethnic side.

According to the draft NCA, the formal NCA signing by leaders of both sides is to be further forwarded to the parliament for approval and a framework for political dialogue is also to be drawn within two months with the dialogue to take place within three months.

The peace process began in November 2013 when UPWC and NCCT met in Myitgyina, Kachin state's capital, for the very first time for the nationwide ceasefire talks, while the last 7th round of talks took place in Yangon in March.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=293072

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Burmese Army Prepares for New Attack on Lawt Mai Yang

According to the KIA frontline sources, Burmese Army has been preparing to launch an attack on Lawt Mai Yang village, located about 2 miles northeast of Mali Yang village in Sumpra Bum Township. 381st, 385th, and 389th Light Infantry Regiments under Mogaung-based 3rd Military Operations Command (MOC-3) and Infantry Battalions under 3rd Tactical Command were involved in the preparation.

Two artillery rounds were fired today on KIA positions around Lawt Mai Yang village at 2:30 pm. Myitkyina sources say one helicopter and two fighter jets were spotted practicing at upper Mali Hka area.

Once the weather cleared up and the rains stop, Burmese Army will launch an attack on Lawt Mai Yang, a frontline KIA officer said.

Burmese Army seized Mali Yang and nearby villages in Sumpra Bum Township using air power during the last meeting on Nationwide Ceasefire Accord (NCA) between EAOs’ Senior Delegation and Burmese government’s representatives in Yangon.

http://kachinlandnews.com/?p=25805

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Battles Intensify in Southern Kachin State

Burmese Air Force fighter jet bombs KIA's 12th Battalion positions on May 20, 2015

Battles continue to rage between KIA’s 12th Battalion troops and a combined force of Burmese Army’s 56th and 86th Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) troops at Nam Lim Pa, La Ait Bum and Nam Hpalang Bum in Mansi Township on May 23.

Burmese Army troops fired several artillery rounds on KIA’s 12th Battalion positions at La Ait Bum followed by ground forces’ assault at 8:10 am. One KIA officer and 3 soldiers were killed by artillery shells, reported KIA frontline source. The two sides fought again in the afternoon at Nam Lim Pa and Nam Hpalang Bum.

On May 24, KIA’s 12th Battalion troops ambushed about 50 Burmese Army reinforcement troops from 437th Light Infantry Regiment on the road between Manta and Mong Hta, and struck an army truck at around 7:45 am.

The two sides have been engaged in a series of battles for several days in Mansi Township. The Burmese Air Force fighters bombed KIA’s 1st and 12th Battalion positions to support ground forces’ assaults.

Burmese Army troops first entered KIA’s 12th Battalion area under the pretext of stopping illegal logging activities in last March. Despite a convoy of log trucks laden with logs from Sagaing and Mandalay Division had been stopped and some Chinese nationals were detained in prison, Burmese Army troops from 15th LIB, 56th LIB, 86th LIB, 142nd LIB, 321stLIR and 601st LIR continued their presence in KIA’s 12th Battalion area in Nam Lim Pa, Kawng Ra, and Magyeng.

KIO officials and local observers said Burmese Army has more intentions than just stopping illegal logging and trading activities, to occupy the area and build permanent bases.

http://kachinlandnews.com/?p=25698

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All about BAD action of Burma Government Continues Using Fighter Jets Against Kaichin

Frontline humanitarian organization, the Free Burma Ranger report that the Burma Airforce continues to bombard Kachin Independent Army positions using jet fighters. The Free Burma Rangers said in a statement released this week that the Burma military has focused its attacks around Nam Lim Pa village.

“On the 18th and 19th of May alone clashes continued for many hours and on the 20th Burma Airforce jets attacked KIA positions on multiple occasions.”

Free Burma Rangers confirmed that Burma Airforce used K8 Karakorum attack aircraft in its offensives against the KIA.

The website http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/hongdu-k8, estimates that that the Burma government had ordered 62 of the K-8 Karakorum “jet trainer and light attack aircraft designed and manufactured jointly by Hongdu Aviation Industry Corporation (HAIC) of China and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC).”

The website describe the planes weapons capability as, “the K-8 is armed with a 23mm cannon pod. The aircraft has five hardpoints of which four are located under wing and one beneath the centreline fuselage section. It can carry 1,000kg of payload. The aircraft is equipped with PL-5 and PL-7 air-to-air missiles (AAM), unguided bomb, BL755 cluster bombs weighing 200-250kg, 57mm unguided rocket pods and two fuel drop-tanks.”

FBR confirmed that in one of the Burma military attacks shrapnel one of its cameramen was wounded.

“Our cameraman, despite his injuries, was able to photograph these attacks.”

Mortar and machine gun fire between Burma Army and Kachin Independence Army (KIA) troops was exchanged over several hours at the head of Nam Lim Pa Village, Mansi Township in the KIA’s 3rd Brigade district.

Free Myanmar Rangers said that the “Burma Air Force K-8 fired rockets at KIA positions around Nam Lim Pa on 20 May.”

karennews.org

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