Statues of Buddhist monks

 

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Statues of Buddhist monks are lined near a temple in Payathonzu, near the Burmese border with Thailand, February 20, 2012.
REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang 

 

Statues of Buddhist monks are lined near a temple in Payathonzu, near the Burmese border with Thailand 

 

Myanmar's new government signed a ceasefire deal with New Mon State Party and its military wing, the Mon National Liberation Army, on February 1 after decades of conflict and has outlined a three-stage plan for permanent peace with all 16 of the country's ethnic rebel groups, promising of village development projects like housing, roads, water electricity and resettlement of refugees and internally displaced people. 

 

It is in talks with investors to set up factories in former conflict areas once political deals are signed, with the promise of higher wages for the hundreds of thousands of people from Myanmar working across the border in Thailand.