The State Peace and Development Council has focused on national reconsolidation, upholding Our Three Main National Causes. In the meantime, it is making all-out efforts to achieve equitable development of all parts of the nation. National race armed groups are exchanging arms for peace individually or in group to join hands with the government, the people and the Tatmadaw, due to the fact that they have understood the government’s prudent drives and benevolent attitude towards them, and made a correct view that their subversive acts do not yield any fruitful results.

From January to April in 2008, major Aik Tun bringing together with him two M-16s, captain Win Kyaw with two Carbines, lieutenant Tun Aung with one AK- 47, corporal Aik Dok with two launchers, Lance corporal Aik Tan with one barrel gun and 133 assorted rounds of ammunition, and privates Aik Zan Pan, Aik Lu, Aik Lwin, Aik Khwok, Sai Ki and Aik Myint from WNA armed group; private Aik Lu with one AK-47, two magazines, 73 ammunition rounds and three mines, Lance corporal Sitta with one M-22, one magazine and 30 ammunition rounds, and private Aye Kyaw from SSA (Ywet Sit); private Kayah Phe with one pistol, private Ti No with a BA-63, three magazines and 56 ammunition rounds from Ya-La-La-Pha (Split) exchanged arms for peace at the Eastern Command area.

Similarly, private Moe Aung with one AK-47, one magazine and 39 ammunition rounds, and private Chit Soe with one Point-22, 10 ammunition rounds and one hand grenade from Battalion 16, Brigade (6) of KNU; sergeant Myint Wai with one AK-47, two magazines and 10 ammunition rounds from battalion (1) of Brigade (1) at the area of the South-East Command; private Saw San Tun with one M-16 and 25 ammunition rounds from Brigade (2) of KNU, corporal Saw Soe Moe and private Saw Ar Di with two AK-47s, four magazines and 27 ammunition rounds, and privates Saw Gamu, Saw Shwe Ge, Saw Kyaw Thein, Saw Po Po and Saw Hayglo from battalion (5) of Brigade (2) at the area of Southern Command; private Saw Lay Lo of battalion (11) of Brigade (4) of KNU and his three family members with one AK- 47, one magazine and 15 ammunition rounds at the area of Coastal Region Command; corporal Yar Sein with one M-22, one magazine and 35 ammunition rounds and private New Oun of battalion (678) and privates Aik Shan and Aik San Naw battalion (768) from SSA (Ywet Sit) at the area of Triangle Region Command; and private Kyaw Win and three family members of Rakhine Army (AA), and corporal Sein Po Tha and private Aung Tha Zan and three family members of BCP (Rakhine) at Western Command exchanged arms for peace.

The 37 received warm welcome and assistance at the camps of the commands. Many other insurgents are planning to exchange arms for peace.