The Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) agreed to hold further peace-talks with the Naypyidaw delegates in early next month and a ceasefire will be a main topic for discussion.
Khu Oo Reh, the Secretary-1of KNPP, told the Kantarawaddy Times after the preliminary meeting with the government peace delegates, “ U Aung Min said we can discuss about politics in next step. So we wasted only time if we discussed about it this time. When we go to Loikaw next month, a ceasefire will be our main topic of discussion for KNPP. The government wants us (KNPP) to sign a ceasefire agreement and we also have a will to enter a ceasefire.”
The preliminary meeting between the KNPP and the government delegates was held on February 6, in Chiang Mai, Northern of Thailand. The KNPP delegates were Khu Oo Reh - the Secretary (1), Aung San Myint - Secretary (2), Khu Plu Reh - Central Committee Member, and General Bee Htoo - the Chief Commander of Karenni Army.
The government delegate was led by U Aung Min and U Ko Ko Maung, and U Sein Kyi were present as peace negotiators. The academics from Myanmar Egress; U Hla Maung Shwe, U Tin Maung Thant, U Wai Ya Mone and U San Ni Nyunt Thein also participated during the meeting.
During the preliminary talk, U Aung Min proposed four points of the government’s peace plan; a ceasefire, opening of liaison office, freedom of movement without armed, and setting up date and venue for further negotiation at Union level.
The KNPP entered a ceasefire agreement with the Burmese government in 1995 but the ceasefire broke down after a few months. Several times, the KNPP had attempted to hold peace talks with the then SLORC and SPDC government, but all negotiations failed.
