OFFICE of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services issued a press release yesterday, announcing that the Tatmadaw would extend its unilateral ceasefire with KIA, TNLA and MNDAA upon the ethnic armed groups’ demand.

The press release stated that the Tatmadaw announced its unilateral ceasefire on 21 December, 2018, and suspended military operations at Northern Command region, North-East Command region, Eastern Command region, Eastern Central Command region, Triangle Region Command region from 21 December, 2018 to 30 April, 2019, to effectively make efforts for peace.

Following the suspension of military operations, the ethnic armed groups who have not yet signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement conducted peace talks, said the statement. Following the discussion, ethnic armed organizations KIA, TNLA and MNDAA asked the Tatmadaw to extend the ceasefire period so that they can carry on the peace making till they can sign the NCA.

Hence, the Tatmadaw announced that it would extend the unilateral ceasefire period in the above military command areas till June 30, 2019 upon demand of the ethnic armed groups as part of efforts for gaining eternal peace and for effectively bring about the peace in the country, said the statement. —MNA