BURMA COURIER No. 262 Mar 11 - 17, 2001


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CEASE-FIRE GROUPS WANT IN ON TALKS WITH SUU KYI

RANGOON, Mar 1 (CNS) - Seven of the armed ethnic minority groups that have
cease-fire arrangements with the military government have called for
participation in talks underway between NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi and
officials of the ruling military council.

In a statement issued on March 1, the cease-fire groups declared that the
"dialogue" between the SPDC and the NLD "could be an initiation of national
reconciliation" and stated their intention to "participate and co-operate .
[in] a comprehensive dialogue aimed at . the emergence of a genuine federal
union and democratization".

The groups signing the declaration include two Shan army groups based near
Hsipaw in northern Shan state, the New Mon State Party, two groups from
Karenni state and two small groups from southern Shan state, the Shan
National Liberation Organization and the Palaung State Liberation
Organization.

Several of the groups signing the declaration joined with the NLD in 1998 in
calling for Burma's parliament to meet before yielding to pressure from the
ruling military council to back away from their stand. Representatives of
the signing groups have met with U.N. envoys appointed to break the
political impasse in Burma.

Not signing the declaration were the militarily strong United Wa State Army,
the Eastern Shan State Army, the Kokang group of U Phon Kya Shin, four
Kachin armies and four Karen groups that have broken away from the Karen
National Union, including the DKBA.