General Secretary-2 of the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) Tha Ban Hla (C) speaks to media after meeting with Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi in Nay Pyi Taw, May 26, 2017. Suu Kyi met with seven Northern Alliance non-signatory armed groups to the Nationwide Cease fire Accord (NCA) on the sideline of the second meeting of the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference of Myanmar in Nay Pyi Taw Friday. (Xinhua/U Aung)
NAY PYI TAW, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi met with seven Northern Alliance non-signatory armed groups to the Nationwide Cease fire Accord (NCA) on the sideline of the second meeting of the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference of Myanmar in Nay Pyi Taw Friday.
The first batch of four groups who met with Suu Kyi were the United Wa State Army (UWSA), Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP)-North and Mongla's National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), followed by the second batch of three other groups of Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Kokang's Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and Arakan Army (AA).
U Zhao Guo An, External Relations Officer of the UWSA, told the press following the meeting that despite no discussions, the family-like gathering serves as a base for future link, fully believing that if all sides strive for peace, then it can be achieved one day.
He added that the relations between the military and the UWSA are good.
General Secretary-2 of the TNLA Tha Ban Hla also said their group's presence in the conference is an initial step for seeking ceasefire and further discussions are expected.
On the day, Suu Kyi also hosted KIO Vice Chairman U N'Ban La and his wife at her residence.
The second meeting of the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference, which aims to unite all ethnic nationalities and build a democratic federal union through dialogue, kicked off here Wednesday.
Some 1,400 representatives from the government, the parliament, the military, invited political parties, ethnic armed organizations and civil society participated in the five-day meeting.
15 ethnic armed organizations were present at the event, include eight signatories to the NCA, led by the Kayin National Union (KNU), and seven non-signatories or Northern Alliance, led by the UWSA.
