Myanmar's President Thein Sein and representatives of eight armed groups signed a Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in a ceremony in official capital Naypyitaw on Thursday. The ceasefire accord comes after three years of negotiations between the government and more than a dozen ethnic rebel armies.
"The nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) is a historic gift from us to our generations of the future. This is our heritage. The road to future peace in Myanmar is now open," Sein said in a televised signing ceremony, according to Reuters.
In a major setback to Sein, seven ethnic armed groups declined to sign the peace deal over differences on several issues. The government earlier planned the signing of the agreement with all 15 armed groups, according to VOA News.
"Although some organizations are currently not ready to sign, the government decided to conclude the [agreement] with the vanguard group. We will continue with our efforts to bring the remaining organizations into the process. The door is open for them. The road to future peace in Myanmar is now open," the president said, according to DW.
The main opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) declined to sign as a witness, and its leader Aung San Suu Kyi skipped the ceremony.
"We did not sign as a witness because it is questionable with regard to the term 'nationwide pact' as now only eight groups signed. However, we would welcome it if there is progress toward peace following this signing," NLD leader Win Htein told The Irrawaddy.
