• Burmese
Saturday, June 14, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
26 °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 News Burma

Ethnic Groups Say Time Has Come To See Detailed Plan For Federal System

Lawi Weng by Lawi Weng
December 12, 2017
in Burma
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0 0
A A
Nai Banya Mon (L), Zo Tum Hmung, Sai Nyunt Lwin, and Nai Pon Nya Mon, who all spoke at the book launch. / Lawi Weng / The Irrawaddy

Nai Banya Mon (L), Zo Tum Hmung, Sai Nyunt Lwin, and Nai Pon Nya Mon, who all spoke at the book launch. / Lawi Weng / The Irrawaddy

7.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

It is time for the Myanmar government and the military to tell the country’s  ethnic groups exactly what type of federal system they can expect to be part of in the future, leaders of the groups said on Tuesday.

The Ethnic Nationalities Affairs Center (ENAC) held a book launch today at Yangon’s Green Hill Hotel, where representatives of the ethnic groups discussed the issue with an audience of about 100 people.

The book, which is an updated conference report outlining federal policies grouped under 11 themes, was released on Tuesday by ENAC, a group working to support the peace process between the armed ethnic organizations and the Myanmar government.

RelatedPosts

General Administration Department clerk Ko Hsan Htay Naing was found dead with his throat slit.

Myanmar Civil Servant Murdered in Rakhine State

December 23, 2021
5.8k
Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) President Dr. Hkalam Samson / The Irrawaddy

Myanmar Military Chief ‘Wants Democratization’, Kachin Religious Leader Says After Talks

December 2, 2020
5.9k
Delegates pose for a photo at the third session of the 21st-Century Panglong Union Peace Conference on July 13, 2018. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

Non-Signatories to Myanmar’s Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement Yet to Decide on Attending Peace Conference

August 10, 2020
6.9k

The book is intended to provide suggestions to the government and the military to use in building a federal system.

“You cannot just say we will give you a federal system, because that is very general,” said ENAC director Zo Tum Hmung.

If the armed ethnic groups know in detail what type of democracy they will get, the national peace process can move forward, he said.

The book focuses on the sharing of power between the states and the central government under a federal system.

Political power is not enough enough for the state governments. They should have power to collect tax as well,” Zo Tum Hmung said.

The right to collect tax is a prerequisite for any state to develop, he said. But, looking at the ethnic states, they are very poorly developed, as they did not have the right to raise revenue via taxation. At present, only the central government has the power to collect tax.

The ENAC report recommends that states should get 70 percent of tax collected locally, with the other 30 percent going to the central government.

“Some people may think the central government should get more than 30 percent, but there are many alternative areas where the central government could raise taxes such as from property, trading and other activities,” said Nai Pon Nya Mon, deputy executive director of ENAC.

ENAC had done workshops in many ethnic states including those with armed groups, and with political parties and civil society organizations (CSOs) in different townships. It found many were in agreement on sharing tax revenues based on a 70/30 split between the states and the central government.

Myanmar has effectively been in a state of civil war for over 60 years, especially in the ethnic states, which has left many of them poor and undeveloped. The book suggested the central government give states such Chin and Rakhine five years to develop without asking for any share of tax revenues.

“Chin state is the poorest. The second is Rakhine,” said Zo Tum Hmung.

“The central government should share more revenue with the Chin as we are poor,” he said.

The time has come for the government and the military to listen to the voices of the ethnic people if they wanted to solve the political conflicts in the country, the ethnic leaders said.

“It is a disease,”said Sai Nyunt Lwin, secretary of the Shan National League for Democracy (SNLD), who also spoke at the press conference.

“This disease has spread to the mainland now. It is time to take medicine to treat this ailment (meaning the central government should listen to the ethnic groups).”

The heads of the states and divisions know what they need to do to promote reform in their areas, the ENAC officials said. But, they do not currently have the legal backing to do it. That power rests with the central government.

ENAC project officer Nai Banya Mon gave as an example the case of a copper mine in Letpadaung in Salingyi Township, Sagaing Region.

The central government approved the mine project despite the opposition of local people.

“If the regional government had power, they may know how to solve this problem. But, this project was approved by the central government, so they could do nothing,” he said.

The leaders of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) and the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) endorsed the book’s 11 sections on how to build a better federal structure.

“If the government accepts our suggestions and discusses them at the upcoming Panglong conference, the peace process can move forward,” said Zo Tum Hmung

There are two paths that lead to reform in the country. One is to fight for rights inside Parliament. The other is to include the rights battle within the peace process. But, the peace process is almost dead in the country, speakers at the book launch said.

Myanmar has now moved into the second generation of reform, with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s government succeeding the U Thein Sein administration. But, the current government still has not mentioned what type of democracy it will give the ethnic groups.

As for the federal system, there is still no plan ready to be implemented despite two reformist governments taking power.

“We do not see any progress toward a federal system from the two governments,” said Zo Tum Hmung.

Mother Tongue Study

Separately, ENAC said all ethnic children should have the right to study in their mother tongue, noting that Mon State had implemented such a program that could serve as a test case.

There are more than 100 ethnic Mon schools run by the Mon National Education Committee and ENAC is working with the MNEC to help implement similar mother tongue programs for other ethnic groups.

The group said the central government needed to provide funds for such studies, including to the MNEC, which faces dire financial difficulties running its own school system.

“All Mon students are citizens of Myanmar. The government should provide a budget for their study,” Nai Pon Nya Mon said.

In Chin, there were no Chin ethnic national schools, according to Zo Tum Hmung.

Under the military regime, ethnic people could not study in their mother tongue. But, since the political reforms began, the government has provided some small space for ethnic people to provide services supporting native language studies.

However, many of the ethnic teachers teaching mother tongue studies faced delays in getting paid, and some ethnic leaders complained the government did not do enough to support these programs.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: Ethnic Conflict
Lawi Weng

Lawi Weng

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

AA Chief Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing in Pang Seng, the capital of Wa Special Region in northern Shan State in 2015. / The Irrawaddy
News

Confederation the Only Option for Arakanese People, AA Chief Says

by Nan Lwin Hnint Pwint
January 11, 2019
15.6k

Under current system, Arakanese live in poverty despite Rakhine State’s wealth of resources, he says

Read moreDetails
Arakan Army chief Gen. Twan Mrat Naing attends a cadet graduation ceremony in Kachin’s Laiza Township, where the armed group’s headquarters is situated. / Arakan Army Info Desk
Guest Column

What Does the Arakan Army Bring to Rakhine State?

by Ye Min Zaw
January 11, 2019
16.2k

The audacious rhetoric of the Arakan Army appeals to an ethnic group feeling decades of neglect and political isolation from...

Read moreDetails
Rangoon University Student Union.
Analysis

Weapons Seized in Mae Sot Destined for Myanmar’s Rakhine State: Intelligence Sources

by The Irrawaddy
July 15, 2020
11.5k

Despite claims by Thai police that arms seized in Mae Sot in June were intended for domestic use, intelligence sources...

Read moreDetails
Lieutenant-Colonel Saw Wai Htoo, a commander of the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), was killed on Oct. 5, 2019. / DKBA
Burma

DKBA Commander Assassinated in Myanmar’s Karen State

by Chit Min Tun
October 8, 2019
7.7k

A commander of a splinter faction of the Karen National Union was shot Saturday by an unidentified assassin, prompting speculation...

Read moreDetails
Karen people gather to oppose the construction of dams on the Salween River, including the Hatgyi Dam, in Hpapun, Karen State, on March 14.
News

Karen Villagers Protest Hatgyi Dam, Other Projects on Salween River

by Nyein Nyein
March 14, 2018
7.9k

On International Day of Action for Rivers, groups call for halt to dams in conflict zones

Read moreDetails
Arakan Army (AA) soldiers at their Kachin State headquarters in April 2019. / The Irrawaddy
Analysis

‘We Are United Because We Are All Under Threat’: AA Chief

by Aung Zaw
June 6, 2019
16.2k

Maj-Gen. Htun Myat Naing denies links to ARSA, says he doesn’t underestimate the abilities of the Tatmadaw. He welcomes China’s...

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
Paul Keenan, the author of Realising Peace in Myanmar. / Nyein Nyein / The Irrawaddy

Arakan Army Will Be Flashpoint For Peace Process: Researcher

Monks accept alms from merit makers in Mandalay, Sept, 20, 2015. / Zarni Mann / The Irrawaddy

Mandalay to Invite 20,000 Monks for Merit Making

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Will Myanmar’s Military Replace Its Embattled Leader?

Will Myanmar’s Military Replace Its Embattled Leader?

1 week ago
2.5k
How the Myanmar Military’s Propaganda Efforts Have Evolved Over the Decades

How the Myanmar Military’s Propaganda Efforts Have Evolved Over the Decades

2 days ago
932

Most Read

  • Civilians in Need as Arakan Army Advances on Kyaukphyu

    Civilians in Need as Arakan Army Advances on Kyaukphyu

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Advances into Karenni State

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Jade Hub Burns as Junta Counteroffensive Penetrates Hpakant

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • China Defends Myanmar Junta on Human Rights at UN

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Untested Commander Takes Charge as Myanmar Military Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades

    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.