Ethnic political parties call for genuine federalism

Photo from Mizzima

Two prominent personalities namely Thian Uk Thang and Saw Than Myint preferred not to join in the biggest victorious party set by the National League for Democracy after successfully winning in the by-elections.

After the release of official results, they were intending to schedule an important meeting with members of Nationalities Brotherhood Forum (NBF), an alliance of five ethnic groups to talk about the elections and their appropriate and proper actions. Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), noted to be the biggest ethnic representatives in parliament will serve as the host.

Mr Myint, treasurer of the SNDP expressed his good wishes for the winning party the NLD saying that the election was done freely and its process were observed fairly.

With all the speaking engagements of Aung San Suu Kyi by the time she started on her campaign trails, she emphasized the importance of putting an end to all hostilities and conflicts among all the ethnic groups and to strengthen their goal towards national reconciliation, U Tin Oo said in The Hindu news.

As Mr Myint’s declaration, his party the SNDP is prepared to work in partnership with various parties which are able and willing to support and enhance their programs but they have plans of joining in an alliance with any Burman party. They believed that Burman parties are not true to their words when it comes to ethnic related concern.

The secretary of the Chin National Party (CNP) Mr Thang revealed that they can’t put their trust to Suu Kyi who tried to convince the ethnic groups that reconciliation is not farfetched, but since she belong to a Burman party, she’s a victim of indifference by this party.

Ethnic groups for instance the Kachin, Chin, Shan, Rakhine, Karen, Mon, Kayah greatly expressed their emotions with discontentment, annoyance, anger for being betrayed for many instances. It is a fact that the government and democratic parties are mostly Burman yet the argument lies between the Burmans and the nationalities.

Remember the Panglong Conference of 1947 which initiated the making of the Union of Burma promising a federalism system with self rule and right to secession but eventually they backed out of the agreement.

Another instance where they felt they were rejected was when they felt discriminated. Burman plays high level in society like they are treated national symbols of the country. While other ethnic groups lack representations in cabinet, bureaucracy, media, and judiciary as well as in cabinet.

For the parties like SNDP, the CNP and the RNDP to enable them to work out on their programs effectively, they came up with a decision to take the parliamentary way. However, ethnic groups such as the Karen National Union (KNU) have resorted to signing peace treaties with the authorities. This will significantly mark the meeting between the KNU and President Thein Sein.

From the point of view of Soe Myint, editor of Mizimma, the way the government is handling down the ceasefire agreement is moving positively towards its goal of a progressive democratic reconciliation. Both the people and the government must support and cooperate with each other in whatever reforms and programs lined up for the country, news report from The Hindu said.