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                Burma, Kachin Rebels Reach Tentative Cease-Fire

   by VOA News

   Burma's government and ethnic Kachin rebels have reached a tentative
   cease-fire aimed at ending two years of fighting that has displaced
   nearly 100,000 people.
   Under the agreement, reached Thursday after three days of talks,
   fighting will stop and further talks will be held on Kachin demands for
   more political rights and greater autonomy.
   The talks, in northern Burma, were monitored by representatives of the
   United Nations, Chinese government and Burmese ethnic minorities.
   Chinese diplomat Lu Zhi told VOA's Burmese service that China had
   assisted the negotiations at the request of both sides.
   "I think the the Myanmar peace talk is the internal, Myanmar internal
   affairs," he said.  "And China, as for China, we are neighboring,
   friendly neighboring countries with Myanmar.  And as interest, direct
   interest linked aside, and we, on the requests of both side, and offer
   necessary assistance on the basis of fully respect of Myanmar
   sovereignty."
   The seven-point agreement calls for a cessation of hostilities, the
   opening of political dialogue and the establishment of joint monitoring
   committees. The parties also agreed to begin work on the resettlement
   of displaced persons.
   The Kachin are Burma's only major ethnic group that has not signed a
   cease-fire agreement since the reformist government of President Thein
   Sein came to power in 2011.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/burma-kachin-rebels-reach-tentative-c
   ease-fire/1671993.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/burma-kachin-rebels-reach-tentative-cease-fire/1671993.html