Ethnic peace talks seek to pave new path for Myanmar

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar: Peace talks between Myanmar’s government and warring ethnic minorities kicked off on Wednesday in a bid to end decades - mired in poverty.

A sea of color filled the vast conference hall in the capital Naypyidaw as delegations from Myan

- fort to reshape Myanmar as a federal democracy following decades of op

of her new government, which took power in March.

achieve national reconciliation and

- try is at peace will we be able to stand

United Nations Secretary General talks, described the gathering as a “his - ing its transition towards democracy.

- - speech to delegates.

“It is now clear that there can be -

Few expect a concrete deal to are seen as the start of a peace process

others have not laid down their arms and some remain locked in combat with the military.

‘Tragic drift’

with the military, said he was opti

told Agence-France Presse. “It’s been

live in stark poverty despite the rich jade, tin and teak wood forests that dot their lands and lie at the heart of many of the battles.

economies in the war-ravaged regions,

deep among minorities after decades and mass killings.

- ernment have said privately they are which still controls borders, defense

backed government signed with

he told the conference, according to an English transcript.

“If the peace process takes longer than the appropriate time, there may -

Wednesday’s meeting comes San, signed a landmark agreement to devolve powers to some ethnic

The deal collapsed after he was assassinated, before Myanmar broke from Britain in 1948, triggering the

reference to the agreement brokered by her father, who remains