The Burmese military junta seems to be stepping up efforts to further tame armed ethnic groups in northern parts of the country. Major General Ye Myint, chief of the Burmese Military Affairs Security (MAS), has met with leaders of seven ethnic armed groups based along the Sino-Burmese border since October, sources said.

The groups have agreed and abided to ceasefires with the Burmese Military for several years now. It is believed that the Burmese military’s long term goal is to convince the opposing ethnic groups of a voluntary disarmament.

A source close to the ceasefire groups has told Mizima, that junta leader Than Shwe has appointed Major General Ye Myint as a special representative for negotiations with ethnic ceasefire groups.

The recent meetings took place at Kyaing Tong and Lashio in Shan State and Myitkyina in Kachin state from October 24 to November 3.Ye Myint kicked off the meetings with members of United Wa State Army (UWSA) on the morning of October 24, followed by afternoon talks with an armed group based in Maila Special Region (4).

On October 28, the junta’s representative traveled to Lashio in northern Shan state, where he held talks with members of the Shan State Army (North), the Kachin Defense Army (KDA) and special region (1) based Kokang armed groups, sources said.

A third round of meetings was held on November 2 in the Kachin state’s capital Myitkyina, where Ye Myint met with the New Democratic Army – Kachin (NDAK) and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).

The meetings which could not be independently confirmed with the concerned ceasefire groups came after four armed groups, including the KIA, released a joint statement in mid-October.

“The meetings are coinciding with the visit of Gambari and are held at a time when international pressure on the junta is increasing,” said Aung Kyaw Zaw, a Burmese military analyst based along the Sino-Burmese border.

“We also heard that Ye Myint wants to dismiss Gambari, saying the UN’s interventions are a biased effort. But the ceasefire groups denied Ye Myint saying such,” Aung Kyaw Zaw added.

While SSA (N) demanded the release of its detained General Soa Htin, Ye Myint reminded the ceasefire groups to strictly abide by the agreements between them and the junta, and to solve problems together.