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Myanmar politics: Ethnic conflicts intensify
A series of clashes have taken place in recent weeks between government troops and local ethnic forces in parts of Shan state and Kachin state. Although talks have continued, the intensification of operations by government troops has undermined the confidence of ethnic groups taking part in negotiations aimed at putting a nationwide ceasefire in place.
In recent weeks there have been a series of clashes between the government and minority armed forces in both southern Kachin and northern Shan. Some 2,000 more people have fled the recent fighting in Kachin (where an estimated 120,000 have already been displaced), and at least 20 troops are reported to have been killed. The current conflict in Kachin state erupted in 2011, ending a long-standing ceasefire with the government. Despite periodic peace talks, only limited progress has been made and tensions remain high.
On May 13th government representatives, led by chief negotiator Aung Min, met for talks with members of the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin state. It was the first high-level meeting since talks in October 2013, when the two sides agreed to form a monitoring committee in a bid to avoid violent clashes. The intense fighting in the...