Myanmar rebel alliance agrees to ceasefire with junta

A rebel alliance in northern Myanmar has agreed to a ceasefire with the ruling military during China-mediated talks, according to some of the parties involved, after a months-long coordinated offensive that threatened to weaken the junta’s grip on power.
The military, which overthrew an elected government in 2021, has been battling an alliance of ethnic minority armies fighting to end its control of their regions since late October.
In particular, there has been intense violence along the northern border with China.
The joint offensive, backed by a parallel pro-democracy, civilian-led government, has posed the biggest battlefield challenge to the junta since the coup and caused concern in China about potential disruptions to border trade and a refugee influx.
A leader of one of the rebel groups, TNLA, told Reuters on Friday that the ‘Three Brotherhood Alliance’ and the military agreed to a “ceasefire without advancing further.”
He declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.
“From the (alliance) side, the agreement is to refrain from offensive attacks on enemy camps or towns. From the military side, the agreement is not to engage in attacks through airstrikes, bombardment, or heavy weapons,” he said.
China’s foreign ministry said on Friday that peace talks were held in the Chinese city of Kunming from January 10 to 11, where “the two sides agreed to immediately cease fire and stop the war.”
Both parties also pledged not to harm residents at the Chinese border, said foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning.
“China hopes that all parties concerned in Myanmar will earnestly implement the ceasefire agreement already reached and exercise maximum restraint,” she said.
Beijing had also said last month the parties had agreed on a temporary ceasefire and to maintain dialogue.
But fighting continued in northern Shan State and other regions in the country, with the rebels taking control of a key commercial town, Laukkai, on the Chinese border last week.
More than 300,000 people have been displaced due to the recent violence, and more than 2 million overall since the coup, according to the United Nations.
The conflict has also seen Myanmar police and military personnel surrender to rebel groups or flee across borders into India.
A spokesperson for Myanmar’s junta did not respond to a request for comment.
The two other groups in the rebel alliance, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Arakan Army (AA), did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the talks.
(Reuters/NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Sport
NPFL: Late goal from substitute Odibo earns Shooting Stars’ slim win to stay second
Odibo latched on to a cleared ball to blast a low shot into the net from the right side of Bendel Insurance’s penalty area during a sustained offensive.

World
Prince Harry suffering enough from Meghan Markle, no need to deport him: Donald Trump
Quizzed about his stance on the matter, Mr Trump said deportation was not in the cards for Harry, saying he had bigger fish to fry.

States
Governor Yahaya appoints 109 directors for Gombe civil service
Ms Jimeta said 172 deputy directors across administrative and professional cadres participated in the selection exercise.

States
Gov. Otti tasks Abia state executive council on enhanced performance
Mr Otti said periodic assessments and leveraging past achievements are vital to improving governance and institutional efficiency.

NationWide
Tinubu running transparent govt devoid of religious, ethnic sentiment: Aide
“I want to assure you that the Tinubu administration is non-partisan; it is devoid of ethnic or religious sentiments,” said Ms Omotayo.

States
Ogun CP urges motorists to exercise patience
Ms Odutola said the CP went on an unscheduled security and safety tour to Ewekoro when he met a gridlock on the Lafarge dual carriageway.