The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) under attack by the Burmese Army as of June 9, received government envoys on Friday at its Laiza headquarters in Kachin State, Northern Burma seeking a ceasefire, said KIO sources.
Four leaders of the Kachin National Consultative Assembly (KNCA)--- Tsum Hpawng Sin Wa, Labang Gam Awng, Ding Yau Zau Ing, were sent by U Thein Zaw, general secretary of the Union Solidarity and Development Party and leader of the Kachin State-USDP. They offered a verbal ceasefire to the KIO, the political wing of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), said KIO officials who attended the meeting.
The envoys referring to the message of U Thein Zaw, People’s Representative of Myitkyina, said that the government is ready to announce a temporary ceasefire with the KIA.
Responding to Thein Zaw’s ceasefire message, the KIO has asked for credible documents sent to the government’s troops on the frontline over the ceasefire, said KIO officers.
KIO leaders in Laiza said it will not start any political dialogue with the government and will not accept any proposal for a political dialogue inside the country. Ceasefire negotiations will have to be in a third country under the aegis of foreign mediators.
The KIO, the second strongest ethnic armed group in Burma also leads the United Nationalities Federal Union (UNFC), the political and military alliance formed by more than 12 Burmese ethnic organizations.
KIO leaders said the political dialogue with the central government will have to be with the alliance--- not individual forces opposed to the government.
