Thirty Members of Armed Groups Surrender to Myanmar GovernmentThirty members from four anti-government armed groups in Myanmar respectively laid down their arms to government forces in seven military command areas in January this year, official newspaper The New Light of Myanmar reported Thursday.These members, who "exchanged arms for peace" with the government, include those from the Kayin National Union (KNU), Shan-State United Revolutionary Army (SURA), Naga Armed Group and All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF). They brought along with them altogether 158 rounds of ammunition among others, the report said. The largest anti-government ethnic armed group KNU and the students' armed organization ABSDF are operating on the Myanmar-Thai border, while the SURA is fighting against the government in the country's northeastern Shan state and the Naga armed group is based on Myanmar-Indian border. Meanwhile, in last December, 45 other members from four anti-government armed groups also surrendered to the government forces in five military command areas, according to an earlier official report. Government statistics show that up to now, 17 anti-government ethnic armed groups as well as the Mong Tai Army, led by former drug warlord Khun Sa, have reached cease-fire agreements with the government. |
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