Internal Peace Issue Is Still in Deadlock, Nai Hong Sar Says

On the 71st Mon Revolution Day of the NMSP, which fell on August 26, the NMSP vice-chair Nai Hong Sar told Network Media Group that differences of opinion still exist between the Tatmadaw and ethnic people.

“When the Tatmadaw was negotiating the agenda, they said they will discuss self-determination and state rights only when we accept the non-disintegration from the Union policy. We have been in a deadlock on this issue,” he said.

He also said that the ethnic people do not want to secede but they cannot pledge not to secede.

“We asked the groups that signed the Panglong Agreement in 1947 to tell us their desire. What they have said is that, first of all, the nature of the agreement that was signed by their leaders – the 1947 Constitution – stated that the Shan State and the Karenni State have the right to secede after ten years. They don’t want to reject what is planned for good by their leaders for something worse. They can’t stand public criticism. They can’t accept it,” said Nai Hong Sar.

The ethnic people cannot promise not to secede at the time where they still have not obtained their rights and state rights. There will be more difficulties if there is oppression in the future and the ethnic people are not saying that they want to secede and they need full guarantee and rights, the NMSP said.

In a statement released by the NMSP on the 71st Mon Revolution Day, it stated that the third session of the Union Peace Conference – 21st Century Panglong, which was held on July 11-16, was unable to discuss issues on self-determination and state constitution that are related to federal principles and there are still differences of opinion in the dialogue for internal peace.

The NMSP urged everyone to continue to find the solution together for internal peace.

Although the National League for Democracy (NLD) government has been able to form a government with acclamation from the public, it is facing various political difficulties under the 2008 Constitution and the peace implementation process is at a standstill, the statement said.

“In our opinion, before the NLD government took office, they including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi proclaimed that they will amend the constitution, reform the political situation, and build the federal union with democracy. But, they rarely carry out these activities and talk about these issues after they came into power,” said Nai Hong Sar.

The NMSP pointed out that the NLD government has been losing public support since it has not said anything to the Tatmadaw concerning the armed conflicts in ethnic areas and the public and it has failed to keep its promise on amending the constitution.

The NMSP has signed state-level and union-level ceasefire with the government and the nationwide ceasefire agreement together with nine other ethnic armed organizations.