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Peace possible between junta and KN
- Subject: Peace possible between junta and KN
- From: ausgeo@xxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 08 May 1997 00:17:00
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