Myanmar's parliament to debate proposal to end fighting in western state

Myanmar's upper house has agreed to debate on a motion to end fighting between the military and the ethnic Arakan Army (AA) in the country's western Rakhine state, parliament sources said on Tuesday.

The motion, which was approved in the house on Monday, also called for bringing the Arakan Army into political dialogue, Xinhua news agency reported.

A military-appointed member of parliament suggested that talks with the Arakan Army should be conducted in accordance with the Nationwide Ceasefire Accord (NCA).

There have been armed clashes between the military and the Arakan Army since the end of last year, especially in Kyauktaw, Rakhine state.

The Arakan Army is among those remaining groups not included in the NCA deal signed between the government and eight ethnic armed groups in October last year.

At a meeting of the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) for Ceasefire, held after the new government took office on April 1, State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi called for continued peace process already initiated by the previous U Thein Sein's government.

She said work on bringing those deemed appropriate for inclusion in the ceasefire efforts, should be done simultaneously.

--IANS

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