Door for peace talks open to armed groups in Myanmar: presidential spokesman

1/9/2019 - 11:44:16 AM

The door for peace talks is always open to the armed groups, said spokesman of Myanmar's Presidential Office U Zaw Htay late on January 7 in Nay Pyi Taw.

This handout picture released by Myanmar State Counselor Office shows a meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, Oct. 15, 2018. (Source: Xinhua/Myanmar State Counsellor Office)

He said the pursuit of peace through the Peace Commission would not be blocked.

He reiterated the government welcomes political dialogue on nationalities' rights, equality and federal rights at the 21st Century Panglong Peace conference.

The armed group Arakan Army (AA) launched coordinated attacks on the four border police outposts in Nga Myin Baw, Kyaung Taung, Ka Htee Hla and Goke Pi villages in Buthidaung, Rakhine state on Friday morning, killing 13 police and wounding nine others.

Meanwhile, President U Win Myint chaired a coordination meeting on Myanmar's international relations, national security, Rakhine state and border security issues at the Presidential Palace on January 7 following the incident.

The meeting was attended by State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, two vice presidents and Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief of the Myanmar armed forces, among others.

The presidential office has instructed to reinforce the security forces in the conflicted areas, U Zaw Htay said.

Meanwhile, Myanmar's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) condemned on January 6 the recent attacks by the AA on the four border police outposts as acts of terrorism, which caused negative impact on the peace and stability in the state and significantly affecting the national reconciliation and peace process.

Source: NDO

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