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Myanmar's peace talks are a first step in a long process

As peace conference was being held, fighting continued in parts of the country
Myanmar's peace talks are a first step in a long process

Myanmar State Counselor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi arriving for the first day of the 21st Century Panlong Conference in Naypyidaw Aug. 31. The four-day gathering was Suu Kyi's first big drive to end multiple insurgencies that have raged in Myanmar's borderlands since independence in 1948. (Photo by AFP)

Published: September 06, 2016 11:20 AM GMT
Updated: September 06, 2016 11:20 AM GMT

On the opening day of Myanmar's recently concluded peace conference General N' Ban La, vice-chairman of Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), finally got a chance to say his piece.

"People wanted to know why ethnic groups took up arms and rebelled against the central government," N' Ban La said in his Aug. 31 speech to 1,600 participants at the 21st Century Panlong Conference held in Naypyidaw.

"It is because the promises of [the first] Panglong agreement such as equality, self-autonomy in 1947 were ignored," he said.

The leader of the KIO was allowed to give his speech at the four-day long conference at the last minute by the military, which also had veto over the guest list prepared by the civilian government led by Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

The Kachin group remains at war with the Myanmar's military. It's been a five-year conflict in the Christian majority state, one that is considered the most severe of the four separate fights currently being waged in the Southeast Asian nation.

The grievances of the country's minority groups reach back seven decades, underpinning just why Myanmar's minority ethnic groups see such a tough road ahead despite a concerted effort by the new government.

Suu Kyi's father, General Aung San reached an agreement giving autonomy to the Kachin, Shan and Chin ethnic groups in 1947 but the deal was never fulfilled. After the 1947 conference, Aung San was assassinated and the ethnic groups took up arms against the central government.

Since then minority ethnic people from Myanmar's seven-states have long called for what Aung San agreed on, a system based on federalism and autonomy. During that time the rights of minority groups have been neglected during the decades-long rule of the Bamar majority's iron-fisted military.

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy has pledged to prioritize the peace process in the country.

At the conference she stressed the need for constant efforts to keep up the momentum needed for peace and reconciliation. A process she said would not be easy.

"To achieve peace is very difficult," said Suu Kyi in her closing remarks on Sept. 3 where she also called "for parties to find ways to overcome differences through sympathetic interaction."

Despite the four-day talkfest being hailed as "a promising step" towards ending decades-long civil wars, the shadow of the country's powerful military still cast across the proceedings.

During the conference, attending military personnel declared their continued support for the 2008 Constitution which guarantees them effective power-sharing via an unelected 25 percent of all parliamentary seats and key ministries including defense and border affairs.

In contrast, ethnic groups want a new system of federalism based on the 1947 Panglong agreement.

Khu Oo Reh, a Catholic and general secretary of United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) — an alliance of seven ethnic armed groups which is yet to be signed to a national ceasefire pact — believes a tough road lies ahead with further negotiations to be held at national levels before the next conference is held next March.

"We are still observing the situation as the military talk about peace and stability at the conference but fighting is still raging in ethnic areas," said Khu Oo Reh, who is also the vice-chairman of the Karenni National Progressive Party.

"And the conference couldn't bring in three groups — the Palung, Kokang and Arakan — who refused the military's demand for them to disarm," he said.

"The government has a responsibility to end fighting and all stakeholders need to find ways towards all-inclusiveness," said Khu Oo Reh.

Min Zin, a political analyst, said that it was significant that the UNFC attended the peace talks.

But Min Zin said it was a barrier to the process that the three armed groups were left out.

"It is a long peace process involving long-term planning and negotiating," said Min Zin, the executive director of the Institute for Strategy and Policy — Myanmar, who presented a paper at the conference.

"It will involve a lot of trust building. This will be a key factor as our society has been very distrustful for decades," he said.

Manam Tu Ja, a Catholic and former Kachin Independence Organization leader, said they will monitor how committed the military are to the peace process.

"We will see how Suu Kyi can influence the military, it is a big challenge," said Tu Ja who is now chairman of the Kachin State Democracy Party.

Tu Ja added that people from Kachin State have both hopes and concerns over the peace talks.

"We can say that it is 50-50 as people in Kachin State were still hearing gunfire while the peace conference was held in Naypyidaw," he said.

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