"Three ethnic armed groups fighting with Myanmar’s military in northern Rakhine State and northern Shan State have unilaterally extended a ceasefire until end of this year, according to a statement released by the alliance on Friday. The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Arakan Army (AA), originally declared the ceasefire September 9, and it was to end on October 8. In the announcement, the alliance said it was ready to strike a bilateral ceasefire agreement if the Tatmadaw, as Myanmar’s national army is called, was also willing. “On our sides, we will not launch any offensive against the Burmese military. We will cease all offensives,” said Khine Thukha, spokesperson for the AA in an interview with RFA’s Myanmar Service. “Because this is the time we are holding peace talks, we think it's best to stop all the fighting. That’s why we are doing what we can. We expect it is helpful to build trust between the two sides,” he added. While the spokesperson spoke of peace negotiations, he blamed the army for a recent eruption in fighting..."