PEACE talks have hit a snag between the Myanmar government negotiators and the Northern Alliance, which is made up of four ethnic armed groups.
Both were due to convene for talks, following their last meeting in Kyaingtong city in the Shan state on Sept 17, but it was postponed indefinitely, according to The Myanmar Times.
U Lamai Khun Ja of the Myitkyina-based Peace Talk Creation Group said: “They do not have any problems. Neither side is ready to meet."
Continuation of talks between the two groups was scheduled in October but later postponed to this month as the government wanted to prepare for the fourth anniversary of the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).
The next round of talks would be the third since fighting broke out between the military and some members of the alliance members in Shan State in Aug.
No commitment has been made on the next round of talks, including the time and location, by either side.
The alliance comprises the Arakan Army, Kachin Independence Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), and Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). None of the group has signed the NCA.
At the Kyaingtong meeting, the government expected to sign a bilateral truce with individual members of the alliance, but the representatives of the ethnic groups said they were not authorised to conclude any deals.
While fighting between the military and a joint force of the TNLA and MNDAA has eased in recent weeks, tension remains high in the area.