Ceasefire Agreed Between Karen Rebels and Myanmar Government

A ceasefire agreement has been signed between the Karen rebels and the government of Myanmar in a milestone achieved towards ending an insurgency that has been one of the longest running. The signing of the agreement has been a vital condition towards the normalization of relations with the West. The negotiations between the ethnic Karen National Union rebels were part of the efforts going on between the new government of Myanmar, dominated by civilians in order to achieve international legitimacy after many years of military suppression.

For more than six decades the Karen group has been fighting for greater autonomy in a guerilla war going on in the eastern jungles of the country that traces back even before the country’s independence from the British. It had been the only ethnic group of Myanmar which has never been able to reach an agreement with the government. The western governments and the democracy champion of the country, Aung Saan Suu Kyi, have presented it as a major demand to bringing an everlasting halt to the long-running ethnic insurgency of the country. Head of the peace committee of the government, Aung min had announced this peace treaty to the reporters after holding negotiations in the Karen capital. Aung Min said that a ceasefire agreement has been signed between the two parties.

For many years Myanmar had been engaged in conflicts with the ethnic tribes who have been fighting for greater autonomy, however after the military took over in 1988 it started ceasefire agreements with these groups.

**********************************************

The Views and Opinions Expressed by the author are his or her opinions only and do not necessarily reflect those of this Web-Site or its agents, affiliates, officers, directors, staff, or contractors. The author at the time of this article did not own any shares or receive any consideration financial or otherwise from any company or person mentioned or referred to in the article.

Tags: Ceasefire Agreement, government, Karen Tribes, myanmar