Myanmar government adopts wait-and-see attitude toward Kokang cease-fire
| Publisher | Radio Free Asia |
| Publication Date | 12 June 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Asia, Myanmar government adopts wait-and-see attitude toward Kokang cease-fire, 12 June 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5589505e59.html [accessed 26 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
2015-06-12
Myanmar soldiers patrol Laukkai in the Kokang region of northern Myanmar's Shan state, Feb. 16, 2015. AFP
The Myanmar government is taking a wait-and-see approach to a unilateral cease-fire declaration by armed ethnic Kokang insurgents to ensure the group will not launch any offenses in the country's restive Shan state, a government spokesman said.
The Kokang army known formally as the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) announced the cease-fire on Thursday in an attempt to end four months of hostilities with the national army along the Chinese border. The MNDAA said it wanted to bring stability to the region and prevent clashes from disrupting general elections scheduled for later this year.
"We will decide something after waiting and seeing if they follow through on the points in their announcement," Zaw Htay, director of the president's office, told RFA's Myanmar Service on Friday. "It will depend on the movement of their ground troops."
The fighting, which started in northern Shan state in February, has resulted in hundreds of deaths and displaced tens of thousands of residents, many of whom fled to neighboring China.
Chinese leaders have put pressure on Myanmar to end the clashes, especially after Myanmar's air force in March dropped bombs on Chinese soil, killing several farmers.
Because the MNDAA is one of three armed ethnic groups currently engaged in hostilities with government troops, it cannot sign a nationwide cease-fire agreement, which President Thein Sein is pushing for to end decades of civil war in the country. The Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Arakan Army (AA) are the two other armed ethnic groups.
Zaw Htay said the Chinese government wants stability in the border area and that the Kokang were welcome to return to their homes if they launch no further attacks.
"It's like any people are welcome if they want to come back home," he said. "[But] if people attack their homes with sticks and stones while they are returning, it is not as if they are coming back home."
Court releases eight people
In another development, a court in Kyauktaw in western Myanmar's Rakhine state on Friday released eight of 32 people arrested in May because of their connections to the AA, a police spokesman said.
Those released were ethnic Myo people from Kyauktaw township, said Khin Maung, spokesman of the Kyauktaw township police.
"We released these eight people among 32 detainees before filing charges," he said. "They have connections to the Arakan Army, but were released because they could be exempted from the charges."
He gave no further explanation for their release.
The AA clashed with Myanmar army troops near Kyauktaw township in March.
Reported by Thinn Thiri and Min Thein Aung for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Link to original story on RFA website
