Myanmar government, student rebel group reach agreement

Myanmar's central peace making work committee on Saturday held peace talks with a student rebel group, the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF), at central level in Yangon's Peace Center, agreeing on some 13 points. The talk was held following a state level peace talk last Monday. Representing the government side at the talks was Vice Chairman of the Peace Making Work Committee U Aung Min, while from the ABSDF side was its Chairman Yebaw Thanke. The agreement includes continuation of political dialogues to reach ceasefire agreement, formation of independent monitoring committee for ceasefire, opening of liaison offices in Kalay ( Myanmar-India border area), Phayathonezu (Myanmar-Thailand border area), Muse (Myanmar-China border area) and Loikaw (Myanmar- Thailand border area), and setting date to hold union level political dialogue in coming November this year. The ABSDF had been operating on the Myanmar-Thai border after the previous military government took over in late 1988. Under President U Thein Sein's peace offer to internal armed groups in August 2011, peace making has been carried out in three phases since then.