Myanmar government talks with Karen ethnic rebel group

MYANMAR: Myanmar government and the rebel Karen National Union began peace talks on Thursday, raising hopes of a ceasefire after decades of fighting as part of the country's apparent bids to reform.

A government delegation and regional army commanders met with nearly 20 senior members of the KNU in Hpa-an, the capital of eastern Karen state, which has been wracked by one of the world's longest-running civil conflicts.

"They are going to sign (a ceasefire)," mediator Hla Maung Shwe, founder of the civil society group Myanmar Egress, told AFP after a morning of talks.

The military-dominated government, which came to power in March last year after decades of outright army rule, has been trying to reach out to ethnic groups as part of reforms seemingly aimed at ending its isolated status.

A leading KNU member known as Brigadier General Johnny expressed optimism over the talks with the government.

"This time they didn't ask us to give up our arms, they just want to work for equal rights for ethnic groups," he told AFP. "This time we trust them."

But he added: "We have been fighting for 60 years and one meeting alone will not end it."

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2012