A convoy carrying senior Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) leader Maj Gen Sumlut Gun Maw reached the Kachin state capital of Myitkyina. The popular KIO leader made a grand entrance to the KIO's recently re-opened Myitkyina office compound in what appeared to be a green hummer. Gun Maw and the rest of the negotiating team were met with a large crowd of well-wishers at the gates of the compound across the street from the Myitkyina's Manau park.
Starting this Tuesday the KIO's negotiating team will meet with the government's chief negotiator Aung Min and his operatives from the Myanmar Peace Center for a two day summit. Both sides are expected to discuss the government's request for the KIO to take part in a national ceasefire conference in November. The KIO seems reluctant to participate in this proposed conference that will be held without any significant Tatmadaw troop withdraws from Kachin state and is lacking political dialogue, which has been long standing Kachin request.
Informed observers told the Kachin News Group (KNG) that they do not expect a major breakthrough to come out of the talks; the second of which to take place in government controlled territory. Prior to Myitkyina meeting this past May, all previous rounds of negotiations happened in KIO territory or just over the border in China.
