Myanmar's government signs confidence-building pact with ethnic Wa rebels

YANGON, Myanmar – A Myanmar government peace delegation has signed an agreement with an ethnic Wa rebel group to build mutual trust in an effort to defuse recent tensions between their two armies.

The state-run Kyemon daily reported Saturday that the five-point agreement includes clauses calling for prompt meetings between the two armies whenever military issues arise and committing the rebel United Wa State Army not to secede.

For decades, Myanmar has faced rebellions from several minority groups seeking autonomy. The Wa, in the country's north, are believed to have the biggest of the ethnic guerrilla armies.