Thirty minutes later, the pirates gestured to us for a ceasefire.

Few of the promised “jobs for the boys” have materialised. Some groups have called off ceasefires.

A ceasefire was eventually agreed in 1953, but a peace treaty has never been signed and the Demilitarised Zone is one of the most heavily militarised places in the world.

President Bush stressed once again that while he would like to see the violence end, any cease-fire must be durable and respected by all.

He also added, “It is not correct for the government to use the word ‘peace’ instead of ‘ceasefire’ when it talks about its deals with the ethnic armed groups.