President Thein Sein called on leaders of ethnic armed groups to work with the government to ensure both national peace and unity in a letter to the gathering of the groups that began yesterday in Laiza.
Presidential Office Director Saw Hay said U Thein Sein’s letter, sent the day before the conference began, struck a perfect balance.
U Thein Sein said in the 29 October letter that the conference is critical. He said he supported a single, nationwide ceasefire accord as well as the adoption of a framework for building peace through political dialogue.
Myanmar can only achieve national unity if its people work together, he said.
The conference, the first of its kind, is begin held in Laiza, the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Organization. The KIO is sponsoring the conference, which aims to reach a nationwide ceasefire accord with the Union government.
Groups attending it include: the United Nationalities Federal Council, New Mon State Party, Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army, Palaung State Liberation Front, Karenni National Progressive Party, Karen National Union, Democratic Karen Benevolence Army, Restoration Council for Shan State/Shan State Army South, Abakan Liberation Party, All Burma Students’ Democratic Front, Pa-O National Liberation Organization and Karen National Liberation Front/Peace Council.
