Two former ethnic peace groups in Myanmar re-formed into frontier forces
Two former ethnic peace groups in Myanmar re-formed into frontier forces
20:49, November 10, 2009 
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Two former ethnic peace groups -- New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K) in Kachin State Special Region-1 and Kayinni Nationalities People's Liberation Front (KNPLF) in Kayah State Special Region-2 have been re-formed into frontier forces by the government, state-run Myanmar Radio and Television reported Tuesday evening.
The two peace groups are the first to have been reformed into such border guard forces.
Ceremonies were respectively held in some areas of the regions on Sunday to mark the transformation to the frontier forces, attended by the government's local military commanders and hundreds of local people, the report said.
The report added that the former peace groups were so transformed so as to enable them to hold arms legally under the command of the government armed forces.
The NDA-K, led by Sakhone Ting Ying, ceased fire with the government in December 1989, while the KNPLF did so in May 1994.
In Kachin state, there established some two special regions for the resettlement of Kachin ethnic peace groups after they returned to the government's legal fold about 15 years ago with the New Democratic Army (NDA-Kachin) in Kachin State Special Region-1 and KIO in Kachin State Special Region-2.
In Kayah state, there are three special regions.
Since the present government came to power in late 1988, 17 anti-government major ethnic armed groups and over 20 small groups were claimed to have returned to the legal fold by signing respective ceasefire agreements with the government.
Some of the armed groups were resettled with special regions with arms retained, conditionally enjoying self-administration.
Under the government's fifth step of its seven-step roadmap announced in 2003, a multi-party democracy general election is to be held in 2010 in accordance with the 2008 new state constitution to produce parliament representatives and form a new civilian government.
The 2008 new state constitution prescribes that all the armed forces in the union shall be under the command of the Defense Services.
Meanwhile, the government urged ethnic peace groups in the country to adhere to the provisions of the approved new state constitution in the light of upcoming general election next year.
"The national race armed groups will have to reconsider formation of their political parties if they wish to work for their regional development within the framework of the constitution," official media said.
There also remains 10 legal political parties in Myanmar.
Source: Xinhua
The two peace groups are the first to have been reformed into such border guard forces.
Ceremonies were respectively held in some areas of the regions on Sunday to mark the transformation to the frontier forces, attended by the government's local military commanders and hundreds of local people, the report said.
The report added that the former peace groups were so transformed so as to enable them to hold arms legally under the command of the government armed forces.
The NDA-K, led by Sakhone Ting Ying, ceased fire with the government in December 1989, while the KNPLF did so in May 1994.
In Kachin state, there established some two special regions for the resettlement of Kachin ethnic peace groups after they returned to the government's legal fold about 15 years ago with the New Democratic Army (NDA-Kachin) in Kachin State Special Region-1 and KIO in Kachin State Special Region-2.
In Kayah state, there are three special regions.
Since the present government came to power in late 1988, 17 anti-government major ethnic armed groups and over 20 small groups were claimed to have returned to the legal fold by signing respective ceasefire agreements with the government.
Some of the armed groups were resettled with special regions with arms retained, conditionally enjoying self-administration.
Under the government's fifth step of its seven-step roadmap announced in 2003, a multi-party democracy general election is to be held in 2010 in accordance with the 2008 new state constitution to produce parliament representatives and form a new civilian government.
The 2008 new state constitution prescribes that all the armed forces in the union shall be under the command of the Defense Services.
Meanwhile, the government urged ethnic peace groups in the country to adhere to the provisions of the approved new state constitution in the light of upcoming general election next year.
"The national race armed groups will have to reconsider formation of their political parties if they wish to work for their regional development within the framework of the constitution," official media said.
There also remains 10 legal political parties in Myanmar.
Source: Xinhua
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