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MYANMAR President HE Thein Sein made his first public appearance yesterday since the start of campaigning for the November 8 general election.
He met leaders of ethnic minority guerilla groups for ceasefire talks in the capital Naypyitaw.
But, in the first general election since the end of military rule, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people have been excluded from the poll, their voting rights taken away.
And a deal with the ethnic armies is unlikely, experts say.
Representatives of five main groups from about 16 participating in the talks met Thein Sein.
The groups included the Karen National Union, the Kachin Independence Organisation and the Karenni National Progressive Party.
“I’d like to stress the importance of peace in the transition to democracy,” Thein Sein said. “Without peace, it is not possible.
“I hope today’s summit will pave the way to signing the nationwide ceasefire agreement by the end of September.”
