Tatmadaw extends unilateral ceasefire for 21 days

By Khaing Roe La 31 Aug 2019

Khaign Roe La | DMG
31 August, Sittwe

The Tatmadaw has extended its unilateral ceasefire for 21 days in five of its command regions, the office of Commander-in-Chief announced.

The unilateral ceasefire, which excludes Arakan State, has expired today on 31 August and the Tatmadaw extended it to 21 September.

The third extension has affected in Northern Command, North-eastern Command, Eastern Command, Eastern Central Command and the Triangle Region Command.

The Tatmadaw has suspended its military operations because it was happy to see improvement in the peace-making process, to encourage the socio-economic development of ethnic people and to build peace, the announcement said.

The Tatmadaw declared a unilateral ceasefire for the first time from 21 December in 2018 to 30 April. Then, it extended the ceasefire from 1 May to 30 June and 1 July to 31 August.

The fighting between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army has been occurring fiercely for about nine months in Arakan State, it is not included in the ceasefire declaration.

Meanwhile, three members of Northern Alliance _ TNLA, MNDAA and AA_ attacked five places including the military academy in Pyin Oo Lwin, battalion headquarter and anti-narcotic inspection gate in Naungcho on 15 August. This has intensified armed confrontations with the Tatmadaw in northern Shan State.