Myanmar ethnic groups meet in Tokyo

Kachin datkasa [Ningbaw Bawmwang Laraw, Duwa Kaba Wawhkyung Sinwa, Du Kaba Alex Gawlu La Awng] lawm ai UNFC hpung ni Japan asuya hte hkrum ai hte UNFC hpe Japan asuya kaw nna amyu bawsang mung shawa hpyen hprawng tsin yam ni a matu 240 million yen [3 million dollars] garum na lam dawdan sai. Read more+++++ click on link http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20121018_27.html?play A top official of an alliance of armed ethnic minority groups in Myanmar says international observers are needed to monitor ceasefire agreements with the government. Hkun Okker, Joint Secretary of the United Nationalities Federal Council, spoke to reporters in Tokyo on Thursday after the Council held a meeting there. At the meeting, representatives of the groups discussed how to use and distribute humanitarian aid supplies from Japan to ethnic minorities in Myanmar. The Nippon Foundation, a Japanese philanthropic organization, will offer emergency aid including food and medicine for more than 1 million displaced people in Myanmar. The aid is worth 240 million yen, or about 3 million dollars. The UNFC's Joint Secretary said they will advance the ceasefire agreements so that they can receive the aid smoothly. However, he stressed the need for the ceasefires to be monitored to achieve permanent peace. Armed ethnic minorities have fought government forces over regional autonomy for more than half a century. Myanmar's government has reached ceasefire agreements with 10 out of the country's 11 main armed ethnic minority groups. But the ceasefires are reported to be fragile, reflecting deep distrust between the government and ethnic groups. Oct. 18, 2012 - Updated 11:19 UTC (20:19 JST) By:http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20121018_27.html?play