The Burmese military junta is yet to respond to the military and political demands of the major ethnic Kachin ceasefire group in the country's north, said sources.
The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), one of largest ethnic ceasefire groups in the country, is awaiting a response from the junta on its demands. It is also looking at further discussions on it, said KIO officials in Laiza headquarters on the Sino-Burma border in Kachin State.
Maj-Gen Gunhtang Gam Shawng, chief of staff of KIA
Last month, the KIO officially submitted its demand of transforming its armed-wing the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) to the Kachin Regional Guard Force (KRGF) at the brigade level (not controlled by the Burmese Army). It also demanded the KIO's direct participation in a new Kachin State government after next year’s elections. The demands were submitted to commander Maj-Gen Soe Win, Myitkyina-based Northern Regional Command (Ma-Pa-Kha), the junta's chief local-level negotiator and Lt-Gen Ye Myint, chief of the Military Affairs Security (MAS) and the Naypyitaw negotiator.
The junta has not responded to the KIO's demands but it requested the group to extend the ceasefire agreement between them and said further discussions will be held soon, according to KIO officials in Laiza.
The KIO also presented over ten departments of its government to Commander Maj-Gen Soe Win and the Naypyitaw chief negotiator Lt-Gen Ye Myint last week, a KIO central committee member in Laiza said.
The junta has been pressurizing the KIO to transform its armed-wing KIA to the Burmese Army-controlled battalion of the Border Guard Force (BGF) since April.
Dr. Lahkyen La Ja, general secretary of KIO told KNG last week, both sides have stuck to their positions on each others demand.
The KIO, meanwhile, has formed an alliance with four other ethnic ceasefire groups in Shan State in the event of the junta launching a military offensive against any of them. The military alliance comprises the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N), Kokang ceasefire group, Mongla-based National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS) and United Wa State Army (UWSA).
Three of the four main Kachin ceasefire groups in military-ruled Burma, have already agreed to transform to the BGF and militia group in June. Those which accepted are the Pang Wah-based New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K) in Kachin State to BGF and Kawnghka-based Kachin Defense Army (KDA) in Northeast Shan State and Lawa Yang-based Lasang Awng Wa peace group in Kachin State as militia groups.
The KIO/KIA was formed on February 5, 1961 for secession of Kachin State from the Union of Burma but it scaled down its demand to self-determination since 1976.
The KIO is keen to solve the nearly five-decade old problem between it and the junta through political means and dialogue, added Dr. Lahkyen La Ja.
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