Over 170 soldiers of an armed ethnic group surrendered their weapons to the government this week as part of a 10-year-old cease-fire agreement, state-run newspapers reported Thursday.

The 176-member 11th brigade of the Shan State National Army handed over assorted weapons including machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and ammunition in a ceremony Tuesday near the town of Thein-ni, Shan state, 750 kilometers northeast of Yangon. The military government was represented by Northeastern Military Region commander Maj. Gen. Myint Hlaing.

The SSNA reached the cease-fire agreement with the government and returned to the legal fold in 1995. Tuesday’s ceremony marked the first turnover of weapons under the agreement, as the rebels had been allowed to retain their arms for self defense.

“We are fully confident of the government’s goodwill and sincerity and we decided to exchange weapons completely for peace at this ceremony,” SSNA 27th regiment commander U Pwan Wan said at the ceremony.

“We take pride in discarding the use of weapons in politics, particularly at this time when the people are longing for democracy. We invite our fellow cease-fire brethrens to completely change the weapons for peace like us,” he added.

The SSNA is one of 17 rebel organizations that have entered into a cease-fire agreement with the military government.