30 May 2017

News Story: Secession fears cloud Myanmar peace talks - government

Some of the ethnic minority areas along the northeastern
Myanmar(Burma) - China border which may break away
Talks to end decades of bitter civil war in Myanmar have faltered, a government spokesman warned Sunday, blaming ethnic rebel demands for greater autonomy, which the military fears could break the country up.

The civilian-led government of Aung San Suu Kyi has made striking a peace deal a key pillar of her administration, but fighting has instead intensified in recent months, with tens of thousands displaced by conflict.

With only a day to go before the end of the second round of peace talks under her watch, officials said little headway had been made on the federalism or increased autonomy that are key demands for ethnic minority groups.

"There will be a less good result than people are hoping for," Zaw Htay, spokesman for the president's office, told reporters on Sunday, adding "we did not get agreement on the matter of seceding".

"People, the military and the government have worries that the union (of Myanmar) will split into pieces if we do not have that commitment."

Read the full story at SpaceWar