Nationwide ceasefire accord collapses
Talks in Chiang Mai among leaders of 18 armed factions saw 10 groups, including the powerful Kachin Independence Army, declaring they would not sign the agreement because of the government’s refusal to extend the accord to include three allied factions fighting in the Kokang border area.
Delegates described this as a “final decision” after two days of talks in Thailand.
President U Thein Sein had invested considerable political capital and effort over the past four years in reaching an accord that could live up to its billing as “nationwide”. But that appeared out of reach last night, even though government advisers in Yangon said it still marked a considerable achievement that some groups would sign.
