• Burmese
Monday, July 14, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
31 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home In Person Interview

Panglong Vox Pops: Part 2

The Irrawaddy by The Irrawaddy
August 31, 2016
in Interview
Reading Time: 6 mins read
0 0
A A
State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi speaks on Wednesday at the 21st Century Panglong Conference in Naypyidaw. / The Irrawaddy

State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi speaks on Wednesday at the 21st Century Panglong Conference in Naypyidaw. / The Irrawaddy

5.1k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Irrawaddy asks members of civil society, government, political parties and others for their thoughts on the 21st Century Panglong Conference, which began on Wednesday in Naypyidaw. Peace negotiations with ethnic armed groups proceed in an environment of high expectations, mixed with considerable skepticism in some quarters.

Nai Ngwe Thein: vice chair of the Mon National Party

What do you expect from the Panglong conference?

RelatedPosts

The Tigyit coal-fired power plant seen in December 2018. / Kyaw Myo / The Irrawaddy

Myanmar MP Denounces Govt’s Extension of Controversial Coal Power Plant Operation

May 20, 2020
5.5k
General Aung San

On Union Day, Views on Aung San

February 12, 2020
6.9k
--

‘Myanmar Is Not Cursed, or a Failed State’

August 17, 2019
15.3k

Frankly speaking, the 21st Century Panglong Conference is just a gathering of people, where key decisions won’t be made. A democratic federal union is still miles away because, according to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, every step has to be made according to the 2008 Constitution. Unless and until the constitution is changed, the problems won’t be solved.

The military maintains its grip on important ministries, and at lower levels. This makes it difficult for Burma to achieve peace. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi can only preach; she can’t give orders.

What do you think is the most important element required for peace in the country?

Political dialogue must be held first, and efforts must be made to achieve a ceasefire. If you sign [a ceasefire] with one ethnic armed group and fight another one, you will never get peace.

John Caesar: secretary of the Karen Literature and Culture Association

What do you expect from the Panglong conference?

Our Karen group is not invited to the 21st Century Panglong Conference. Why were we left out? I understand that smaller ethnic groups won’t be invited because it’s a national level conference, but we are not a small ethnic group.

I don’t have high expectations of the conference, because it is not a once-and-for-all thing. Without amending the 2008 Constitution, the conference will not be able to contribute toward a genuine federal Union. What’s more, since it does not include all groups, it won’t reflect the voices and fundamental rights of all people of the nation.

What do you think is the most important element required for peace in the country?

For the entire country to enjoy peace, the distribution of power is of utmost importance. As long as centralization lasts, there won’t be internal peace. It is necessary that federalism be genuine. But to amend the 2008 Constitution is the main imperative.

Sai Aung Myint Oo (Photo: Facebook)
Sai Aung Myint Oo (Photo: Facebook)

Sai Aung Myo Oo: Shan Youth Organization

What do you expect from the Panglong conference?

They [the government] said they won’t make decisions but will work out a framework. We can’t expect much. They will find a solution within five years. The coming conference is just the opening phase for adopting a framework. I am glad that most of the stakeholders are included and it is good that many academics are involved. But then we can’t expect much since certain groups are not invited. And I am really sad that there are ongoing clashes in Kachin and Shan states.

Kai Rein: Kachin National Development Foundation

What do you expect from the Panglong conference?

I have no expectations towards the conference because of ongoing clashes in our Kachin State. We heard that each ethnic armed group would be given only ten minutes [to speak], and the opening and closing [remarks] would be made by the government. It seems that the government is acting according to the 2008 Constitution.

What do you think is the most important element required for peace in the country?

If a ceasefire can be agreed, there is hope for peace. I am speechless since the government organized it in a one-sided manner.

Salai Issac Khen (Photo: Facebook)
Salai Issac Khen (Photo: Facebook)

Salai Issac Khen: Chin State municipal, industry and electricity minister

What do you expect from the Panglong conference?

I hope [the conference] can find solutions to political and ethnic issues for the future of Burma. Of course, the challenges are huge. We are working with belief and hope. Not everything is going smoothly. We need patience and tolerance.

What do you think is the most important element required for peace in the country?

To achieve genuine peace, patience is needed. Everyone has his or her own views and it is important to learn from each other. It is also important that the definition of peace be the same between the two sides.

Haji Aye Lwin: Muslim spiritual leader and founding member of Religions for Peace

What do you expect from the Panglong conference?

It is a result never seen before in Burma. Almost every stakeholder will gather, except some smaller groups, whose future participation can be achieved through negotiation. The two sides [the Burmese military and excluded groups the AA, MNDAA and TNLA] just need to reach an agreement over terminology.

I have great expectations towards it. But the problems are acute. It is childish to criticize the National League for Democracy (NLD) led government over its performance in its first 100 days, as armchair critics have done. The civil war will not stop at once. It will take time. But it is now going in the right direction.

What do you think is the most important element required for peace in the country?

I expect that with more and more negotiation, the gap between different views will narrow. The most important thing is mutual trust. To have trust, there must be justice.

It is understandable that both sides will protect their own self interest, but there needs to be some give-and-take in building trust.

Cheery Zahau (Photo: The Irrawaddy)
Cheery Zahau (Photo: The Irrawaddy)

Cheery Zahau: ethnic Chin women’s rights activist

What do you expect from the Panglong conference?

As everyone knows, the conference will not result in a decision; it is just a starting point for discussion. There won’t be any breakthroughs.

Some politicians argue that the NLD government initiated the process, but, in fact, it is part of the process begun in 2011 by the U Thein Sein administration. No matter what government comes into power, the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement mandates the conference. People need to be aware of this.

I have no big expectations towards the conference, since stakeholders will just exchange their views and not make a decision.

What do you think is the most important element required for peace in the country?

To achieve genuine peace, it is necessary that all groups, holding a variety views, are included whether or not they have won [seats in] the election, or whether or not they are welcomed.

For example, in the first Union peace conference in January this year, only eight ethnic armed groups were involved—and now UNFC [United Nationalities Federal Council] members will attend the coming conference. So, there is greater participation.

Yet, in spite of increased participation by ethnic armed groups, the participation of political parties has decreased a lot, because of government criteria that allow only parties that have representation in parliament to join the conference. Peace is not about having representatives in parliament; it is about discussing all the different views and all the problems.

Ye Htut (Photo: The Irrawaddy)
Ye Htut (Photo: The Irrawaddy)

Ye Htut: former Minister of Information

What do you expect from the Panglong conference?

You can’t expect a lot from the conference other than bringing the NCA non-signatories to the negotiating table in the first round. The 1947 Panglong Conference only discussed whether hilly regions were willing to regain independence together with the mainland [Ministerial Burma]. The 21st Century Panglong is much wider than that. Everyone needs to understand this.

What do you think is the most important element required for peace in the country?

For the country to achieve peace, [the government] needs to create a political landscape in which [ethnic armed groups] are convinced that they can claim ethnic rights through the ballot box. And ethnic armed groups should be determined to lay down arms.

In the time of the previous government, the Myanmar Peace Center was hasty in making some decisions because it wanted to show that it could achieve outcomes in a short time period. Such mistakes should be avoided this time. People and the media need to know that the coming conference will not work out a solution in three days, as with the 1947 conference.

Muay Noom Hom (Photo: Facebook)
Muay Noom Hom (Photo: Facebook)

Muay Noom Hom: spokesperson for the Shan Women’s Action Network

What do you expect from the Panglong conference?

Clashes are still going on. To be frank, they are holding the conference just to show the international community, because the international community thinks highly of her [Daw Aung San Suu Kyi]. But she has never spoken of the situation of the people on the ground. Unless there are equal rights, self-determination and autonomy, genuine peace will not be established.

What do you think is the most important element required for peace in the country?

Peace means no war and no fear. [The government] needs to secure the fundamental rights of citizens, including to security, education, health and livelihoods.

Aye Min: chair of the Dawei Nationalities Party

What do you expect from the Panglong conference?

I don’t hold much expectation towards the conference because many more discussions—at least ten rounds—need to be held. Around 70 parties that did not win seats in the general election last year cannot participate in the conference. Since most of them are ethnic parties, the voices of ethnic people won’t be reflected in the conference.

We have things to discuss on behalf of our ethnic people. Because the government has imposed restrictions, we can’t express our concerns.

What do you think is the most important element required for peace in the country?

An important issue in peace [negotiations] is the division of territory, because some groups are having territorial disputes.

Nyi Pu Lay (Photo: Facebook)
Nyi Pu Lay (Photo: Facebook)

Nyi Pu Lay: award-winning author and Mandalay resident

What do you expect from the Panglong conference?

I’ve never seen peace in my whole life. Every ethnic region has suffered due to armed conflict. Panglong is the conference that could fulfill our wishes and bring peace to the ethnic regions. Although it will take time, I believe Panglong will be the first step toward peace, where all parties can participate.

What do you think is the most important element required for peace in the country?

To achieve peace, all-inclusiveness is vital. If there’s some exclusion, the peace achieved will not be sustainable.

Restoring peace is very important for the country, especially for the ethnic people, because their regions have been left under-developed for many years due to the absence of peace and stability.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: Panglong
The Irrawaddy

The Irrawaddy

...

Similar Picks:

In Panglong, ‘Union Spirit’ Monument Lies in Chauvinistic Shadow
Stories That Shaped Us

In Panglong, ‘Union Spirit’ Monument Lies in Chauvinistic Shadow

by Kyaw Zwa Moe
May 7, 2015
11.4k

A towering pagoda dwarfs a monument celebrating national unity enshrined in the Panglong Agreement, but the story doesn’t end there.

Read moreDetails
Shan chieftains pose for a photo at the 1946 Panglong in Shan State.
On This Day

The Original Panglong

by Wei Yan Aung
March 26, 2019
7.6k

The 1946 conference has been recognized as the first Panglong but is less known than the one that followed the...

Read moreDetails
General Aung San
From the Archive

On Union Day, Views on Aung San

by The Irrawaddy
February 12, 2020
6.9k

To mark Union Day, Feb. 12, some of Burma’s leading politicians, activists and religious figures speak about the country’s late...

Read moreDetails
Attendees of the Union Peace Conference—also being heralded as the 21st Century Panglong Conference—pictured on the event’s opening day in Naypyidaw. / JPaing / The Irrawaddy
Burma

21st Century Panglong Conference Kicks Off in Naypyidaw

by Nyein Nyein
August 31, 2016
9.1k

Over 1,000 attendees were present at the grand opening of the five-day conference, discussed as the first step toward national...

Read moreDetails
Kachin Independence Council vice chair General Gun Maw attends the summit of ethnic armed organizations in Maijayang, Kachin State in July 2006. / The Irrawaddy
Interview

When NCA Is Comprehensive, We Will Sign: Senior KIO Official

by Nan Lwin Hnin Pwint
April 25, 2019
10.2k

KIO vice chair Gen. Gun Maw denies China pressuring his group to join NCA, but says gov’t refusing to allow...

Read moreDetails
The Tigyit coal-fired power plant seen in December 2018. / Kyaw Myo / The Irrawaddy
News

Myanmar MP Denounces Govt’s Extension of Controversial Coal Power Plant Operation

by Thiha Lwin
May 20, 2020
5.5k

A Shan State lawmaker spoke out against the continued approval of a coal plant in Tigyit despite its damage to...

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
The border crossing into Myawaddy, in Karen State, from Mae Sot, Thailand. / Kyaw Hsu Mon / The Irrawaddy

E-Visa Holders Permitted to Enter Burma Overland

Soldiers of the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army in 2015, prior to the faction under Maj. Na Ma Kyar splintering from the group. (Photo: / Kyaw Kha / The Irrawaddy

DKBA Splinter Group Confirms Leader’s Death

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Trump’s Tariffs to Hit Myanmar’s Garment Manufacturers Hard

Trump’s Tariffs to Hit Myanmar’s Garment Manufacturers Hard

5 days ago
1.2k
China’s Surveillance State Watches Everyone, Everywhere

China’s Surveillance State Watches Everyone, Everywhere

6 days ago
1k

Most Read

  • Myanmar Junta Chief Thanks Trump for Shutting Down VOA and RFA

    Myanmar Junta Chief Thanks Trump for Shutting Down VOA and RFA

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Deploying Conscripts in Major Push to Reclaim Lost Territory

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • KIA Denies Rumor Chief Under House Arrest in China

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Chinese Investment Reshapes Myanmar’s N. Shan as MNDAA Consolidates Power

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • ‘Las Vegas in Laos’: the Riverside City Awash With Crime

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.