• Burmese
Thursday, December 7, 2023
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
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • 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
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Burma

NCCT Leader: Federalism Proposals Should Include Ethnic Army Guarantees

by Lawi Weng
May 11, 2015
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A
NCCT Leader: Federalism Proposals Should Include Ethnic Army Guarantees

Nai Hong Sar (right) in Panghsang earlier this month. (Photo: Lawi Weng / The Irrawaddy)|

3.6k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

RANGOON — The joint chairman of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) has used a celebration on the Thai-Burmese border to make the case for a federal system of governance and the retention of ethnic armies, after ethnic leaders repeated their desire for constitutional amendments which would devolve power from Naypyidaw.

Nai Hong Sar had returned from the Panghsang summit, held from May 1-6 to discuss the draft text of a proposed nationwide ceasefire agreement negotiated between the government and the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT).

RelatedPosts

Over 300 Civilians Reportedly Killed as Retreating Myanmar Military Ups Atrocities

Over 300 Civilians Reportedly Killed as Retreating Myanmar Military Ups Atrocities

December 6, 2023
1.3k
Myanmar Activists Call on Neighbors to Shun Junta Conference

Myanmar Activists Call on Neighbors to Shun Junta Conference

December 6, 2023
1.1k
Arakan Army Declares Seizure of Major Myanmar Junta Base

Arakan Army Declares Seizure of Major Myanmar Junta Base

December 6, 2023
1.7k

The summit unanimously agreed to call for constitutional change in support of a “federal union which guarantees equality and self-determination”, while committing its signatories to renounce secession if a federal union was introduced.

Nai Hong Sar, who is also head of the NCCT, discussed the federal proposal while speaking in the Thai town of Sangkhlaburi, across the border from Mon State’s Ye Township, to mark the 258th anniversary of the end of the Mon Hongsawatoi Kingdom.

“We will ask to have a federal system when there is political dialogue in the country,” he told the predominantly ethnic Mon audience. “This is a common goal from all ethnic groups which was agreed to in Panghsang.”

In what is likely to prove a sticking point for future ceasefire negotiations, Nai Hong Sar added that any federal system should also include provisions for the maintenance of ethnic armies.

“We want to have an American style [of governance], where we can run our own state, and we can have our own army,” he said. “We agree to have one army in the country, but our state will have our own army because we need it in order to protect our ethnicity. They are trying to eliminate our ethnicity in order to fully control the whole country, this is why we ethnic groups need our own armies to protect our people.”

The Panghsang summit statement did not explicitly refer to the retention of ethnic armies, but did include a denunciation of human rights abuses by the Burma Army and called for an immediate end to assaults on Kachin, Ta’ang, Kokang and Arakan armed groups.

Nai Hong Sar said that the NCCT was continuing to push for the inclusion of ethnic armed groups that the government did not recognize as parties to the peace process.

“We wanted all ethnic groups to participate at political talks, but they do not want groups the Kokang, Palaung, and Arakan Army. This was a problem at our recent talks,” he said.

The Arakan Army and the ethnic Kokang Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) are members of the NCCT but are not recognized by the government. The Palaung State Liberation Front, the political wing of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, is a recognized member of the NCCT engaged in ongoing conflicts with the Burma Army.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: A_FactivaConflict
Previous Post

Rangoon Power Supplier Blames Rise in Blackouts on High Demand

Next Post

KNU Leader Rapped for ‘No Transparency’ in Peace Process

Lawi Weng

Lawi Weng

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

Myanmar’s Northern Alliance ‘Not Interested’ in Empty Peace Talks With Junta

Myanmar’s Northern Alliance ‘Not Interested’ in Empty Peace Talks With Junta

July 27, 2023
2.1k
Foreign Investment in Myanmar Plunges 60% on-Year in First Quarter

Foreign Investment in Myanmar Plunges 60% on-Year in First Quarter

June 8, 2023
6.7k
A silhouetted solider from one of Myanmar's ethnic armed group. / The Irrawaddy

Timeline: 70 Years of Ethnic Armed Resistance Movements in Myanmar

February 1, 2019
15.3k
Inspiring Women of Burma  

Inspiring Women of Burma  

March 18, 2016
32.3k
On Leadership and Power in Myanmar

On Leadership and Power in Myanmar

September 15, 2022
5.6k
Burmese Director Explores Same-Sex Relationships in New Film

Burmese Director Explores Same-Sex Relationships in New Film

January 28, 2016
7.9k
Load More
Next Post
KNU Leader Rapped for ‘No Transparency’ in Peace Process

KNU Leader Rapped for ‘No Transparency’ in Peace Process

Local Lenders Wait on Central Bank for Credit Card Approvals

Local Lenders Wait on Central Bank for Credit Card Approvals

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

As Myanmar’s Junta Loses Control, Its Coup Leader Ratchets Up His Blame Game

As Myanmar’s Junta Loses Control, Its Coup Leader Ratchets Up His Blame Game

5 days ago
8.1k
Myanmar Regime Stops Fuel Supplies to Yangon Factories

Myanmar Regime Stops Fuel Supplies to Yangon Factories

2 days ago
7.9k

Most Read

  • Myanmar Junta Boss Tries to Drive Wedge Between Ethnic Armies, Civilians

    Myanmar Junta Boss Tries to Drive Wedge Between Ethnic Armies, Civilians

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Uses Chemical Warfare: Arakan Army

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • ‘Hundreds’ of Civil Servants Desert Myanmar Junta in Sagaing as Resistance Offensive Expands

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Ethnic Army Battles to Seize Another Base From Myanmar Junta Near Border With China

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Full Civilian Rule Restored in First Large Town Seized by Myanmar Resistance: NUG

    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

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
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • 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.