The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), an ethnic Kokang rebel group from Burma’s northern Shan State, has joined the United National Federal Council (UNFC), the Independent Mon News Agency reports. The UNFC, an alliance of eight ethnic rebel groups, convened in Chiang Mai, Thailand, last week where it welcomed the MNDAA. Phone Win Naing, a MNDAA official, said it joined the UNFC so that it can “work together, hand in hand” with other rebel groups in dealing with the Burma government. The UNFC has been holding peace talks with Naypyidaw, but the sides have failed to make much progress.