Myanmar state counselor calls for immediate end to armed conflicts in North

The 21st Century Panglong Conference is the only way to end all armed conflicts and establish a perpetual peace, she said, adding that the government is still keeping the door open to all relevant stakeholders for participation in the peace process and that all parties need to sign the NCA to end all conflicts.

She asked the armed groups to work together with the civil society to find ways to strengthen the monitoring mechanism that would ensure non-violation of ceasefire agreement and to work toward a peace goal and take part on equal terms in the upcoming second 21st Century Panglong Conference to be held in February 2017.

Military conflicts broke out in the border area of northern Myanmar's Shan state early Sunday morning, when an alliance of three non-ceasefire signatory ethnic armed groups launched surprising attacks on government's military outposts and police stations in Muse and Kutkai townships as well as a border trade zone in Muse.

The three armed groups are Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Kokang's Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).

Ten people, including four civilians, have been killed and 33 injured in the clashes, according to updated figures of the Information Committee of the State Counselor's Office Wednesday.

Four temporary relief camps have been opened in Muse, where 3,000 refugees are being accommodated, according to the committee.