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Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Sunday, June 25, 2017
Myanmar: Panglong Conference — Mixed Results?
While Aung San Suu Kyi expressed optimism on the outcome of the conference and that the year 2017 would be the year of Peace, the Army Chief made a sour note that the Army would stick to the path of peace provided by the National Ceasefire Agreement and not to any other path of peace or political negotiations.
( June 23, 2017, New Delhi, Sri Lanka Guardian) The
second session of Panglong Conference, officially called 21st Century
Panglong Conference began on 24 May and end on 29 May a day later than
the original schedule. Though many critics have said that the
conference did not bring the “desired” results- I think one should go by
what Suu Kyi at the end of the day said after the conference that peace
“is starting to take tangible form for the first time.”
The Conference:
The Conference brought in over 1400 representatives from the government,
Parliament, the Army, political parties, ethnic armed entities and
civil society members. Significant was the presence of the Chinese
backed UWSA group and six of its associates who were invited as “special
guests”at the last minute as well as the Chinese Ambassador who sat
through the entire proceedings of the six days.
Equally significant was the absence of the once powerful and now
weakened United Nationalities Federal Council who on the eve of the
conference released a statement that they would not be attending as they
were not given the “full rights” to participate. In the absence of the
UNFC, the conference was indeed not ‘inclusive’ and yet the presence of
the two most powerful insurgent groups- the UWSA and the KIA made up for
the absence of other marginal groups.
While Aung San Suu Kyi expressed optimism on the outcome of the
conference and that the year 2017 would be the year of Peace, the Army
Chief made a sour note that the Army would stick to the path of peace
provided by the National Ceasefire Agreement and not to any other path
of peace or political negotiations. This in effect was contrary to the
new three stage process proposed by the WA group and six of its allies.
Principles Accepted- On Consensus.
At the end, the Conference adopted 37 principles that included 12 on
political issues, 11 on the economy, 10 on land and the environment and 4
on social policy. The following points are of interest.
* In the political sector, three of the principles like the sovereign
power resting with the citizens, separation of powers of executive,
legislative and judiciary and entrusting the powers to the Union,
States, Regions and Self Administrative areas were closely on the lines
of the 2008 constitution. Two of the issues namely Union, Region and
State Cabinet issues enjoying the “taxes according to laws” and self
administered states and regions to carry the names of the races are
entirely new. The rest of them had slight changes from the constitution
but were not totally opposed to them
* There was general agreement that Myanmar must be a multi party
democracy with free and fair elections in accordance with the
constitution.
* Implicit in the dialogue process as described above would need
certain changes in the constitution and even new additions to the 2008
constitution. This would mean that the amendments that can be done only
through the provisions of chapter 12 of the 2008constitution which in
turn would need the approval of the army as it holds a strangle hold on
all amendments. Since the army representatives were present and
consented to the agreed principles, it is expected that they would come
on board.
* On economy, two issues appeared to be important- one- allocation of
national budget in a fair and equitable manner and two in the management
rights in economic affairs between the Union and others is a noteworthy
inclusion.
Issues where No Consensus could be Found:
* What is more significant and crucial are the eight points on the
political side that were not agreed to and these mainly related to the
issues relating self determination, secession and compliance to the army
sponsored and much hated 2008 constitution. These are being given
here in full detail to understand the future challenges.
Specifically these were-
- No privileges or restriction of rights for any ethnic group.
- Union that allows self determination within a federal frame work.
- Constitutions for states and regions must comply with the 2008 constitution.
- Right to self determination in politics, economy, social affairs, culture and heritage of the states and regions.
- Self determination of the national characteristics and culture of ethnic people.
- No part or territory of Union shall ever secede’
- States and regions to prescribe constitutions and laws that do not exceed the 2008 constitution.
- Self determination as prescribed in 2008 constitution.
Discussion on Security Sector:
Besides, the political, economic and social sectors, an issue that was
discussed in great detail but not officially published was the one on
security where the Army maintained that there could only be one army and
that would be the “Tatmadaw.” The question of a federal army has been
an issue of intense debate right from the first Panglong Conference.
While the Burmese Army continues to insist that there should be one
national army under the new federal arrangement, the ethnic armed groups
would prefer to retain their respective armed forces under some
accepted arrangements. They would thus prefer a “united Army”
guaranteeing democracy and a federal system. In the face of a rigid
stance from the Army, it was not expected that a decision could be taken
so easily. It needs time and building of trust between the regular
forces and the armed insurgent groups. One good example to study would
be the integration of the Maoist militants with the Nepalese army after
the accord.
Contentious Issues/Wordings
One issue that took most of the time in the discussions and locked the
talks into a stalemate was the one on “secession.” This issue has
already been tackled in the 2008 constitution and precluded by the three
basic principles- namely non integration of the Union, non
disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty.
Sure, that the first Constitution and the first Panglong Conference of
1947 had provided option for secession after ten years. But in the
changed situation now, it is too early to expect the ethnic groups who
have been fighting since independence to agree to this clause soon. It
is like expecting a child to run when it had just learnt to stand up!
UWSA has to be on board for success of the Peace Process:
The Peace accord after the conference cannot move forward without
meeting the challenge posed by the UWSA and its alliance of seven
parties called “Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee
(FPNCC).”
There is no doubt that both Suu Kyi and the Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) see
this as a challenge to the peace process. The issue is further
complicated as the group is fully backed by China and it was only after
Chinese intervention that they were invited to the conference. The Wa
has been claiming its territory as a “Wa State” a term not approved by
the State. One Analyst has rightly said that without Wa participation
the peace process is meaningless and I would add that the other powerful
group KIA will also have to be on board for the peace process to
succeed.
Encouraging Developments:
There were of course some encouraging developments. Aung San Suu Kyi
separately met the representatives of the Wa. It is heard that the KIA
chief N’Ban La who attended the conference called on Suu Kyi with his
wife. Before departing, he also told the media that he was leaving with
success in hand and that the Kachin groups planned on holding a
dialogue with the government soon. Some good news from the northern
border had also come with the fighting between the Northern Alliance and
the Burmese Army having eased out. It must have been realised by now
that any further intensive operation against the Kachins would only
throw the group into the lap of the UWSA and in turn to the Chinese!
Soon after the conference, the Wa led alliance on return to their base
declared that it would only meet with the government peace negotiators
as a single entity and not as separate groups. In the normal
circumstances, the government should not agree to this as it tantamounts
to having a separate parallel peace process outside the NCA. Yet in its
anxiety to get the WA and its alliance group on board, the government
Peace Commission is now planning to meet the group- now being called the
“Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC).
Conclusion:
In the concluding remarks, Aung San Suu Kyi said- and we quote “The
agreements that we have been able to sign today mark a significant step
on our path toward peace, national reconciliation and the emergence of a
federal democratic federal Union.” It is a little too optimistic and
yet in a limited way there was progress. She has expressed her
intention to have the conference every six months. There is realisation
that peace has to be concluded soon. Suu Kyi is not getting young and
the challenges are too many. Yet she is the only hope for Myanmar for
becoming a truly federal democratic state!