Pubdate: Sat, 20 Apr 2002
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2002 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Section: International/World Briefing
Author: Seth Mydans

MYANMAR: CEASE-FIRE REJECTED

The military government of the former Burma has rejected an offer of 
cease-fire talks with the Shan State Army, an ethnic rebel group, saying it 
would accept only surrender. Over the past decade, Myanmar has reached 
peace agreements with 17 rebel groups that had been fighting against the 
government and against each other for decades in remote jungles. Some 
sought separate states, some sought autonomy agreements and some were 
occupied primarily with banditry and drug running. The Shan State Army is 
one of three sizable groups -- involving the Shan, Karen and Karenni 
minorities -- that continue to fight.
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