Myanmar’s junta chief on Friday called on face-to-face peace talks with the country’s set up ethnic rebel group, as the military struggles to overwhelm more modern anti-junta militias that have sprung up to fight the coup.

Myanmar has approximately 20 ethnic rebellion armies — lots of which control swathes of far-flung border territory — which have fought each different and the military for decades over the drug alternate, natural sources, and autonomy.

Some have condemned the ouster of Aung San Suu Kyi’s government and presented safe haven and weapons education to “People’s Defence Forces” (PDF) that have sprung up because the putsch and which analysts say have amazed the navy with their effectiveness.

“I invite leaders of ethnic armed groups for dialogue,” junta chief Min Aung Hlaing said in an address on state media, calling for representatives to register by May 9 and adding he would meet them personally.

“We are all going to discuss honestly and openly… for the people to be able to enjoy the essence of peace and development,” he said, without giving a date for proposed talks.

The call comes amid daily clashes between junta troops and PDF groups, some of which are fighting alongside ethnic rebels in border areas.

Last week, the junta said its troops had displaced hundreds of PDF fighters as well as members of the Kachin Independence Army after days of clashes around Pinlebu town in the northern Sagaing region.

Heavy fighting has also been reported in Kayin state near the Thai border, with PDF fighters conducting operations alongside troops from the Karen National Union, another established rebel group.

Last month, Min Aung Hlaing vowed the navy could “annihilate” PDF forces in a speech at the annual Armed Forces Day parade, which changed into attended by means of representatives from numerous ethnic rebel corporations.

More than 1,700 people were killed in an army crackdown because of the coup, consistent with a local monitoring organization.