Army told to halt attacks
Myanmar has told the military to halt all offensives in ethnic minority conflict zones, a top official said yesterday, as the regime pursues peace deals with guerrillas as part of wider reforms.
The army-backed government, which last year replaced the long-ruling junta, on Thursday signed a ceasefire with Karen rebels in the eastern border region, raising hopes of an end to one of the world's oldest civil conflicts.
A day later, President Thein Sein ordered the military not to attack any ethnic minority groups except in self-defence, Khin Yi, the minister of immigration and population, told AFP in an interview in the capital Naypyidaw.
"The order covers the whole country," added the former national police chief, who was present at the signing of the ceasefire with the Karen National Union.
An earlier presidential order issued in mid-December for the military to cease attacks against ethnic Kachin guerillas in the north of the country failed to stop heavy fighting in the region, according to the rebels.
The Kachin guerrillas have not yet taken up the government's offer of peace talks, Khin Yi said, but added that the authorities aimed to organise a meeting of all the ethnic groups if ceasefires are agreed.
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