UPDATE - Political parties welcome next year polls pledge by junta in Myanmar

UPDATES WITH DETAILS ON RENEWED CONFLICT IN NORTHERN MYANMAR

By Anadolu staff

Political parties in Myanmar welcomed the next year general elections pledged by the junta.

In a joint statement, published by the Ministry of Information of Myanmar, the political parties said the announcement is a firm decision of the State Administration Council to implement the five-point roadmap.

"The message that the government is preparing to hold an election in 2025 is intended for the emergence of a public-elected democratic government. It is not an escape for defense and security organizations, and we accept it as the best escape for all people, including political parties," it said.

Last month, the junta leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing announced holding the long-delayed election next year.

In February 2021, Myanmar’s army overthrew the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and seized power in a military coup.

The country fell into deep social, political and economic turmoil as the army conducted brutal campaigns against perceived opponents.

Since October, fighting between the military and armed opposition groups has intensified and spread to most of Myanmar.

Since the February 2021 coup, over 2,470 airstrikes were carried out, resulting in over 1,300 deaths.

More than 2.8 million people in the war-torn country are displaced, and at least 18 million require humanitarian aid, according to the UN agencies.

Meanwhile, anti-junta forces claimed to have captured important ruby-mining town of Mogok in Lashio, Shan State in northern Mandalay Region on Thursday.

The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and allied forces also captured 19 junta troops while at least 10 people were killed and several others injured in regime's heavy artillery fire on residential areas, Myanmar Now news website reported.

However, the junta forces rejected such claims.

There was no fighting at the North-East Command, but there has been intense fighting at the No. 507 Infantry Regiment near Lashio city, and the fighting between the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and government forces - the Tatmadaw - has been intense there, local media outlet Eleven Media Group reported, citing official sources.

Reports of renewed clashes in northern Myanmar come as China on Thursday called on the rival groups to stick to dialogue and consultation, cease fire as soon as possible, and settle differences in a peaceful way.

Earlier, Beijing had brokered a cease-fire between the junta and the rebel groups.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid