Myanmar's government is reaching out to armed ethnic groups in an attempt to end six decades of civil war.
Achieving peace was a key demand made by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her visit to the country last week, as a precursor to further engagement with the West.
The first ceasefire agreement has been signed with the Shan ethnic group, and talks continue with nine other ethnic groups, but there is still a long way to go.
The ethnic minorities' grievances run deep, even for those not currently locked in an armed struggle.
Al Jazeera's Aela Callan reports from Yangon.
