Members of the Northern Alliance, a group of ethnic armed groups that have not signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), have submitted their own proposal for a ceasefire to the government. According to a report in the Myanmar Times, the submission was made during a meeting with government negotiators that related to bilateral ceasefire agreements. The group also proposed discussions of the NCA and the return of refugees, according to Lieutenant Colonel Naw Bu, spokesman of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). As well as the KIA, the meeting was also attended by representatives from the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDA), and the Arakan Army (AA). “Even though there is fighting in Shan, we are ready to sign a bilateral ceasefire agreement if the government and Tatmadaw agree,” said Naw Bu. Government spokesman U Zaw Htay told reporters after the meeting that the government and the military would consider the proposal. He also added that another meeting was scheduled to take place in May.