PHNOM PENH, June 1 — The Myanmar government has extended a temporary ceasefire that expired yesterday to June 30 to facilitate rebuilding and to prepare for the general election.
The Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services said today that reconstruction of damaged government offices, public residences and transport facilities in the earthquake-affected areas is in progress.
“The Tatmadaw (armed forces) extends the temporary ceasefire period from June 1 to 30, 2025, to facilitate rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in earthquake-affected areas, hold a free and fair multipartisan democratic general election successfully, serve the interest of the entire nation and people with greater acceleration, and achieve genuine and long-lasting peace and in view of peace and stability,” read a statement posted on the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services’ website.
The government plans to hold elections either at year end or in January.
There was mounting regional pressure on the Myanmar government to extend the ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to reach those impacted by the March 28 earthquake.
In April, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim held talks with Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing and the National Unity Government to pause the conflict on humanitarian grounds.
In the just-concluded 46th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Monday and Tuesday, regional leaders also urged for an extended and expanded ceasefire to allow aid delivery without any hindrance and for peace to prevail nationwide.
Nearly 3,700 people have lost their lives in the natural disaster and thousands were left homeless when the 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck on March 28.
— Bernama
