Former Mizo CM in Yangon for peace

Aizawl: Former Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga arrived in Yangon on Monday to broker a peace deal between the Myanmarese government and 17 ethnic insurgent groups in the country.
Chief of the opposition, Mizo National Front (MNF), left Aizawl on Sunday. He left for Yangon from Kolkata on Monday. Sources close to the former MNF underground leader said Zoramthanga would hold talks with the Myanmarese ministers involved in parleys with the rebel outfits from January 13 to 17 in Yangon.
“He (Zoramthanga) would act as an interlocutor for the 17 ethnic insurgent groups including the Karens, Kachins, Wa, Arakanese, Chins and others operating in the Shan state. The Shan State Army (SSA) also features in the list,” said a source.
After the historic Mizo Accord with the Government of India in 1986, former erstwhile underground MNF leaders, including the legendary leader, Laldenga, were engaged in peace deals. Zoramthanga, during his tenure as Mizoram’s CM from 1998 to 2008, was actively involved in Naga peace deal.
He used to visit Bangkok quite often to meet NSCN (I-M) chairman Isaac Chishi Swu and general secretary Thuingalen Muivah to break the impasse in the talks between the Centre and the outfit.
The former CM said he always wanted to work as an interlocutor and a facilitator between two parties involved in a peace deal.