A total of 53 members mainly from three anti-government armed groups in Myanmar laid down their arms and surrendered to the government forces in the last four months, a state-run newspaper reported Sunday.

These members, who "exchanged arms for peace" with the government during the period from May to August, include those from the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S) led by Ywet Sit, Kayin National Union (KNU) and Kayinni National Progressive Party (KNPP), the New Light of Myanmar said.

They brought along with them a total of 230 rounds of ammunition among others, it said.

Of the three groups, the SSA-S was declared in August 2005 by the government as an unlawful association along with three other anti-government organizations.

The government had charged the Ywet Sit-led SSA-S with drug trafficking, masterminding of terrorist acts, manufacturing of counterfeit notes, arson and rape.

According to official statistics, a total of 63 other anti- government armed members also laid down their arms and surrendered to the government forces from Nov. 2005 to April 2006. They also include members from the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) and the Chin National Army (CNA) in addition to the SSA-S and KNU.

During that surrender in the six-month period, as many as 1,135 rounds of ammunition among others were handed over to the government.

Meanwhile, in July this year, a total of 848 members of SSA-S splinter group, led by Vice Chief of Staff of the Army and Commander of Brigade-758 Mein Sin, returned to the legal fold in Laikha, Shan state with their weapons allowed to retain for self defense against Ywet-Sit-led SSA-S.

Since the government adopted a policy of national reconciliation in 1989, 17 main anti-government armed groups have made peace with the government and returned to the legal fold under respective cease-fire agreements.

Source: Xinhua