by Our Foreign Desk

MYANMAR’S government put its seal on a ceasefire with eight rebel armies yesterday — although the largest guerrilla groups refused to sign.

The National Ceasefire Agreement was signed at a ceremony in the capital Naypyitaw by President Thein Sein and representatives of the eight groups.

However, several large forces including the Kachin Independence Organisation, the Shan State Army and the United Wa State Army declined to join in.

“Although some organisations are currently not ready to sign, the government decided to conclude the (agreement) with the vanguard group,” Thein Sein said in a speech at the signing ceremony.

“We will continue with our efforts to bring the remaining organisations into the process. The door is open for them.”

The ceasefire paves the way for talks on a lasting peace between the government and insurgent groups, which will be removed from the official list of terrorist groups.

Myanmar recognises 15 separate rebel armies, although several smaller groups exist.

Many ethnically based armies have been fighting since the country gained independence from the British empire in 1948.

“We have to keep fighting for our freedom, for our political rights,” said Thar Phone Kyaw, general secretary of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, which also refused to sign.

He insisted that no ceasefire would be signed without assurances that the Ta’ang would get the “federal union” promised them by Myanmar’s communist independence leader General Aung San more than 60 years ago.

Federal autonomy would give the Ta’ang greater control over their natural resources in the northern Shan state, including a say in issues ­surrounding an oil pipeline to China.

Critics claim that the new deal is meant to boost the popularity of the Thein Sein’s Union Solidarity and Development Party before elections next month.

Aung San’s daughter Suu Kyi, who leads the main opposition National League for Democracy, had urged rebel groups not to sign the deal.