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Peace possible between junta and KN



Subject: Peace possible between junta and KNU: SLORC  press

Peace possible between junta and KNU: SLORC press

RANGOON, May 7  - Burma's ruling junta SLORC  and the Karen National Union 
(KNU), the only major insurgency yet to reach a ceasefire with Rangoon, could 
still resolve their differences in talks, the official media said here 
Wednesday.
There "was not much difference" in the SLORC and KNU positions in unsuccessful 
peace talks last year, the New Light of Myanmar daily said.
The KNU, which has been battling successive governments in Rangoon for almost 
50 years, refused to abandon armed struggle in the four rounds of talks, which 
ended in December.
"There were signs that these points could be solved if the discussions were 
held once more," said the commentary, written under the byline "a native of 
Kayin (Karen) state."
The KNU has said it was seeking further talks when SLORC forces abruptly began 
a massive offensive against it in February, causing thousands of Karen 
civilians to flee to Thailand.
The conciliatory tone of the commentary suggested the junta could still be 
hopeful of reaching an accord with the KNU, which is maintaining guerilla 
resistance in its former enclaves close to the Thai border, a Burmese observer 
in Rangoon said.
Some 15 insurgent groups have reached ceasefires with the junta, the State Law 
and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), through a combination of military 
pressure and promised development assistance.
The KNU leadership has repeatedly stated it would regard the abandonment of 
armed struggle without substantive political dialogue as tantamount to 
surrender.
AFP