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Karens meet Rangoon team to explore peace

MAESOT: Representatives of Burma's military rulers met Karen guerrilla leader General Bo Mya to prepare for talks to end one of the world's longest-running guerrilla wars, Karen sources said on Wednesday.

A three-member delegation from the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) met Karen National Union (KNU) president Bo Mya and others Karen leaders on the Thai-Burmese border for an hour on Sunday, KNU sources said.

"General Bo Mya urged the SLORC to withdraw its troops from Karen areas to pave the way for a peace initiative," a senior Karen official told Reuters.

The SLORC representatives from Rangoon were identified as U Khun Myint a former member of parliament rom Karen state, Tun Aung Chain and Aye Soe Myint.

The KNU has been battling for greater autonomy since 1949, a year after Burma gained independence from Britain.

The Sunday meeting signalled a resumption of tentative moves towards peace talks which ground to a halt late last year when the Burmese army launched a major offensive against the KNU, capturing a large area of guerrila territory in southeastern Burma including its headquarters.

The KNU had said earlier any talks should cover their political demands and not just a ceasefire as the SLORC insisted.

The KNU official said the meeting was a positive step and more talks would be held, but declined to elaborate.-Reuter