Peace talks held in the Kachin state capital Myitkyina on Thursday ended with the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and the government delegation signing a joint agreement aimed at lessening tensions on the battlefield and helping displaced populations.
Both parties agreed to a 7 point agreement, some of which included opening monitoring offices and begin assistance projects that would help the more than 100,000 civilians who have been displaced by the fighting.
While the agreement fell short of a ceasefire, it will “prevent further clashes while efforts are underway to reduce fighting”, the fish farming businessman, turned peace broker , Hla Maung Shwe, told the Democratic Voice of Burma during a recent interview.
Hla Maung Shwe, who is a member of the EU funded Myanmar Peace Center stated the agreement also includes provisions to hold political discussions between the government and the KIO in the future.
It remains to be seen what direction the next rounds of peace talks will take, the KIO face pressure from its community to not bow to the central government, which remains largely unpopular for most of the state’s residents.
Whether or not the joint monitoring process will actually lead to a reduction in tensions between the two sides is also uncertain. Government forces continue to antagonize both the south and north Shan State Army (SSA), leading to regular clashes despite ceasefires being inked over a year ago.
