China invited ceasefire groups to trade fair

DVB (August 25,2003)

For the first time, the Chinese government has invited the leaders of seven ethic groups which have signed ceasefire agreements with the SPDC to visit Kunming Trade Fair 2003 which will begin officially on 26 August.

Among them are KIO (Kachin Independent Organization), NDAK (New Democratic Army Kachin), UWSA (United Wa State Army) and the Kokang Chinese.

The invitation is the first of its kind from China during the ten year period of ceasefire. It is quite an extraordinary gesture and interesting fact that the groups are invited during the visit of General Maung Aye and the SPDC delegates to Beijing, said some observers on the Sino-Burmese border.

A team of SPDC delegates, headed by Colonel Ne Win, the director of border trade has already arrived at the fair. They would display Burmese products in 49 show rooms.

In addition, the SPDC border officials from Muse District were also invited by Chinese officials. But it is not clear whether the SPDC team and the ethnic national delegates would meet at the fair.

Among the invited groups, the KIO was summoned and reprimanded by the SPDC during recent days for sending a protest letter regarding the Dipeyin incident.

The KIO was also aggrieved by SPDC’s recent raids on the regions under the control of Brigade – 4 of the KIA, the military wing of the KIO.