Network Media Group / BNI Online | August 14, 2018

Although the Tatmadaw and the Northern Alliance had originally agreed to meet within these days, the meeting has been postponed, an ethnic leader said.

“In the past, I heard that they would meet today, but we still haven’t been officially informed about the meeting so maybe the date has been postponed,” said Col Naw Bu, information officer of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), which is a member of the Northern Alliance.

“The Tatmadaw is the main reason why we haven’t been able to meet. The ethnic

[armed organizations]’ side didn’t [postpone the meeting],” he continued.

Network Media Group has been unable to find out the reason why the meeting has not been held yet.

“Originally, they wanted to meet us. Both sides want to meet, but the date hasn’t been negotiated yet. The date hasn’t been set when they made the offer. Both sides want to meet. It hasn’t been cancelled,” said Maj Mai Aik Kyaw, information officer of the Palaung State Liberation Army/Ta’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA), which is also a member of the Northern Alliance.

The KIO delegation led by its chair Gen N’Ban La met with the Tatmadaw delegation led by Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung recently met in Dali City of Yunnan Province in China.

According to reports, the meeting was halted after the Tatmadaw told the KIO that it would only continue the discussions if the KIO accepts Our Three Causes.

The Northern Alliance includes the TNLA, the KIA, the Arakan Army and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), also known as the Kokang group.

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This article originally appeared on BNI on August 14, 2018.

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