Zoramthanga present at NCA
Source: The Sangai Express / Press Trust of India
New Delhi, October 15 2015 :
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, interlocutor for the peace negotiation between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) RN Ravi and former Chief Minister of Mizoram Zoramthanga were present at the signing of the peace pact.
Apart from India, other international representations were from China, Japan, Thailand, the United Nations and the European Union, official spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry Vikas Swarup said.
"As a friendly geographical, historical and cultural neighbour of Myanmar, we were glad to make a small contribution to the best prospects of peace in Myanmar.
The eight groups among the ethnic minorities signed this peace accord today belonging to the Kayin and the Chin groups.
"The agreement remains open for the signature from the other groups with which the Government of Myanmar has been in negotiations with.
The signing ceremony was attended by very few...
as international witnesses," he said.
The ceasefire pact with eight ethnic minority armies is seen as a step towards ending decades of civil war though the move has weakened by the refusal of several other rebel groups to join the agreement.
According to reports, the truce is the fruit of more than two years of negotiations and was a key goal of reformist President Thein Sein ahead of November elections, which are likely to sweep his army-backed party from power.
In a lavish televised signing ceremony in the capital Nay pyi Taw, Thein Sein said the deal would give "an inheritance of peace" to future generations.
Zoramthanga, a former rebel leader, was involved in the peace deal and had travelled earlier to Myanmar and Thailand where he held talks with both Myanmarese rebel groups and the Government as a go-between.