"U Lamai Khun Ja of the Myitkyina-based Peace Talk Creation Group said the talks could be extended if today’s meeting goes well. “We’re going to negotiate a bilateral ceasefire first,” he said. “It depends on the results of today discussions whether the negotiations will continue.” The alliance is comprised of the Kachin Independence Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, and the Arakan Army. Tuesday’s meeting was the second between the two sides, after a meeting in Kyaingtong on August 31. Senior Tatmadaw (military) officials, including Lieutenant General Yar Pyae and Lieutenant General Min Naung, are to join the talks for the first time. The talks came as renewed fighting between the military and TNLA erupted on the outskirts of Namhsan town on Friday, resulting in the displacement of hundreds of villagers and the reported death of one man.