Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has called upon Myanmar's new President to implement a cease-fire and open peace talks to end fighting with ethnic guerrilla groups.
Her open letter sent on July 28 to President Thein Sein and four rebellious ethnic groups warns that their conflict can expand if not addressed through genuine negotiations. She offered to assist in any way she could to help achieve a cease-fire. Groups have been fighting for decades for more autonomy. Fighting erupted last month near the Chinese border after the army demanded that Kachin guerrillas withdraw from positions near a Myanmar-Chinese joint venture hydropower project. The Shan, Mon and Karen are the other groups to whom Ms Suu Kyi appealed. — AP
