Myanmar junta, rebels sign ceasefire deal, announces China

ISTANBUL

The junta regime in Myanmar and rebels have signed a ceasefire deal, China announced on Monday, state media reported.

A “formal ceasefire agreement took effect at 00:00 on Jan. 18, Beijing time, leading to an immediate cessation of hostilities,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in the Chinese capital.

The ceasefire was signed by the junta and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) during their seventh round of peace talks in Kunming, the capital of southern Yunnan province in China.

“Both the sides expressed gratitude to China for its efforts in facilitating the successful outcome of the talks,” said Mao.

The de-escalation of the situation in northern Myanmar “aligns with the common interests of all parties in Myanmar and the countries in the region, contributing to the security, stability, and development of the China-Myanmar border area,” she added.

Northern Myanmar has seen intense clashes in recent months, resulting in the displacement of thousands of people.

Separately, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has appointed Malaysian diplomat Othman Hashim as special envoy to Myanmar.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan announced Othman’s appointment on Sunday after chairing a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers.

Othman is the fifth special envoy of ASEAN on Myanmar since the February 2021 military coup that sparked a political and humanitarian crisis in that country.

In their meeting, the ASEAN top diplomats also upheld their leaders' decision to bar the junta generals from participating in ASEAN summits and foreign ministers meetings.

Soon after the February 2021 coup launched by Myanmar's military, known as the Tatmadaw, ASEAN issued a Five-Point Consensus plan, or the 5PCs, when Brunei was at the helm of the regional bloc, to normalize the political situation.

It includes building trust and confidence to engender a dialogue among all parties concerned, end violence, and alleviate the suffering of residents.

Since the coup, 28,096 people have been arrested on political charges, with 21,499 still detained. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners reports that at least 6,106 civilians have been killed by security forces, though this does not include casualties from ongoing fighting.

• Islamuddin Sajid contributed to the story