The Peace Building Forum, which was planned to be held in Loikaw on 18 and 19 February, was cancelled following an order from the president office to ban the event. The Daily Eleven Newspaper reported that no official letter was issued on banning of the event only the state government said it was acting on order from the president office. Members of the state government, international organizations, political parties, the ethnic armed groups as well as civil society groups from seven townships were invited to the event. The forum was organized together with the Myanmar Peace Centre (MPC), but the state government said on 17 January that although it support the peace process, however, problems would arise if the forum were held. Reference: Daily Eleven 18 February page 15