YANGON, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi on Sunday invited the Mongla ethnic armed group in Shan State Special Region-4, eastern Shan state to sign a nationwide ceasefire agreement, saying that the national political dialogues are being conducted in accordance with the agreement in striving for the establishment of a democratic federal republic.
"It is necessary to convene the national-level political dialogues which will enable us to firmly maintain durable peace and stability already achieved and the rights of ethnic races and their needs," Suu Kyi stressed in her message of greeting on the occasion of a commemoration ceremony held at Mongla, Shan State Special Region-4.
"The time has come for us to transform the voices emerging out of the hearts of the ethnic people of Mongla Special Region-4 as well as their views and opinions, into the fundamental federal principles at the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference via the national level political dialogues," said Suu Kyi, who is also chairperson of the National Reconciliation and Peace Center.
She conveyed the government's attitude of always leaving the door open to armed group of the special region and remaining others to join the talks at the peace conference, urging for a move to the level of a nationwide one while both sides observe mutual restraint.
Suu Kyi called on all the leaders and ethnic brothers and sisters of the Shan State Special Region-4 (Mongla) to join hands and work with the government to realize the dream of genuine peace and the democratic federal republic.
The National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) was one of the first armed groups to sign a ceasefire with the Myanmar military in 1989 and the region they based was designated as Shan State Special Region-4 (Mongla) by the government.
