Myanmar's government and ethnic Karen rebels signed a cease-fire agreement in an effort to end one of the world's longest-running insurgencies. The agreement includes 11 points and aims to resolve the 62-year conflict between the two parties. The cease-fire could potentially lead to the lifting of sanctions imposed on Myanmar by the European Union and the United States. Despite several unsuccessful peace talks in the past, the current climate of change in Myanmar under its reform-minded government has made dialogue necessary. He expressed strong confidence in the ongoing talks, emphasizing that peace negotiations are now necessary due to the current circumstances. He believes that the people, who have endured the traumas of war for a long time, will be relieved to hear this news and hopes they will finally experience the benefits of peace. Since 1949, the KNU has been fighting for greater autonomy through its military wing, the KNLA, against successive governments in Myanmar. Saw David Htaw commended the government's peace negotiators for their honesty and sincerity. In addition to the issue of sanctions, peace with the KNU is crucial for Myanmar's economic interests. The resurgence of conflict poses a security threat that could disrupt the construction of the $50 billion Dawei Special Industrial Zone, which is set to become Southeast Asia's largest industrial estate and a significant source of income for the country. Previous offensives by government forces have displaced hundreds of thousands of Karens, forcing them into refugee camps in Thailand, which has struggled to accommodate the influx of refugees. Myanmar's military has been accused of mistreating the Karens and other ethnic minorities through various human rights violations such as rape, forced labor, torture, and murder. The West has reacted by implementing strict sanctions. In the agreements made in Pa-an, efforts will be made to resettle and rehabilitate those who have been displaced. Arms will be allowed in specific areas, landmines will be removed, and liaison offices will be established to promote communication. These discussions are part of a series of dialogues between the government and rebel groups along Myanmar's borders with Thailand and China. An agreement has been made with Shan State Army (South), but talks with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) have been disrupted by ongoing fighting, despite President Thein Sein's order for the military to cease operations. U.S. officials believe that achieving peace may be the most difficult challenge for civilian leaders seeking to transition the nation away from decades of military rule. The rebels have little trust in Thein Sein's government, which includes many individuals from the former military regime, but they generally support Aung San Suu Kyi's goal of federalism within Myanmar's republic, a vision shared by her father, Aung San.