Myanmar opens peace conference with ethnic rebels

Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the country's military commander yesterday opened a major conference with representatives of ethnic minority groups to try to move toward a lasting peace after seven decades of strained relations and armed conflict. Suu Kyi in a speech to the attendees said, she is worried that any delay in the peace conference could affect her people's chance to get peace. 

The third session of the 21st Century Panglong Conference is scheduled to last five days and follows meetings held



in August 2016 and May 2017. Those sessions failed to make much headway in resolving differences between the government, the military and ethnic rebel groups seeking greater autonomy. 

In his speech on the conference's opening day, military commander Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing urged all stakeholders in the peace process to swiftly reach an agreement, citing the delay in the peace process as contributing to the lagging development of the country.