• Burmese
Saturday, July 19, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
28 °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

State Counselor Tells Peace Conference Participants Not to Dwell on the Past

Nyein Nyein by Nyein Nyein
September 3, 2016
in Burma
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0 0
A A
State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi delivers her closing remarks at the Union Peace Conference in Naypyidaw on Saturday. / Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy

State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi delivers her closing remarks at the Union Peace Conference in Naypyidaw on Saturday. / Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy

5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

NAYPYITAW — State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi delivered the closing speech at the 21st Century Panglong peace conference on Saturday, in which she encouraged participants not to dwell on the past, but to “look to the future with courage.”.

The first installment of the Union Peace Conference—with other peace conferences to follow at six-month intervals—began on Wednesday and ended after three-and-a-half days of sessions featuring 750 participants from ethnic armed groups, the government, parliamentarians, political parties and the Burma Army, among others.

Members of civil society organizations, including women’s groups, attended as observers, numbering 50. With support staff for participants, attendance swelled to 950—notwithstanding the opening day, which was attended by 1,400 people in total.

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

One notable upset was the abrupt departure on Thursday of the United Wa State Army delegation, who were offended at having being issued “observer” nametags at the outset, even though the conference organizers were quick to put it down to a management error.

Across sessions, a total of 72 stakeholders each delivered ten-minute presentations—sometimes contrasting in content—which touched on principles for establishing federalism, changing the constitution, regional development, governance, women’s participation in political leadership, and formal programs of security sector reform/disarmament, demobilization and reintegration.

The ethnic armed alliance the United Nationalities Federal Council delivered its draft federal constitution, which conceives an “eight state model” with a “Burman state” being formed out of several existing divisions, to add to the roster of current ethnic states. Other statements revolved around the commitments and “spirit” contained in the original 1947 Panglong Agreement, which promised autonomy for ethnic “frontier areas.”

The presentations delivered by the Burma Army, however, upheld the 2008 Constitution and stated that any amendments should be in accordance with its procedures.

The State Couselor in her closing remarks lauded the conference as a “proud landmark” and a testament to joint effort. She hoped that those who “looked only to the past” would think more for the future.

“It is up to the individual whether we remain stuck in the past, or whether we face the future with courage,” she said.

With the conference over, further discussion will take place over how to include all groups in a national-level political dialogue, which would pave the way for a federal restructuring of the state.

Although the conference included both armed groups that have signed and those that have not signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, three armed groups—the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Arakan Army—were not invited because they refused to publicly commit to disarming, as demanded by the Burma Army (a demand not made of other ethnic armed groups.)

Participants told The Irrawaddy that they acknowledged that the current conference was only an “introduction” to peace negotiations, which they believed could span over three to five years.

State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi told attendants that peace talks were “not for individual organizations or ethnic groups, but for all people in the Union, and particularly for future generations.”

She urged participants and the wider public to “think of peace-building as everyone’s responsibility instead of leaders’ only.” She said that all presentations in the conference had been broadcast live, to let the public understand they must take part in the process.

She acknowledged that there had been mishaps—a likely reference the departure of the United Wa State Army delegation—but she thanked the organizers for their “tireless efforts under pressure.”

Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, who chairs the 21st Century Panglong organizing sub-committee (1), said in his closing speech that, “Our aim is conflict resolution.” He urged everyone to help “transform contrasting opinions” into a common vision.

Before the next peace conference, scheduled for six months’ time, the political dialogue framework will be finalized and national-level political dialogue will begin, according to current plans.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: Panglong
Nyein Nyein

Nyein Nyein

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
US President Barack Obama delivers remarks to the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders at the East West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii on August 31, 2016.

Ahead of State Counselor’s Visit, US Considers Burma Sanctions Relief

The UWSA delegation pictured on the first day of the 21st Century Panglong peace conference in Naypyidaw. / Wa State News Agency

UWSA Criticizes Peace Conference for ‘Poor Management and Discrimination’

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

What the ‘Snake Charmer’ Analogy Gets Wrong About Myanmar

What the ‘Snake Charmer’ Analogy Gets Wrong About Myanmar

4 days ago
1.5k
Chinese Investment Reshapes Myanmar’s N. Shan as MNDAA Consolidates Power

Chinese Investment Reshapes Myanmar’s N. Shan as MNDAA Consolidates Power

1 week ago
3.5k

Most Read

  • Myanmar Junta Airstrikes Protecting Irrawaddy Flotilla Kill 20

    Myanmar Junta Airstrikes Protecting Irrawaddy Flotilla Kill 20

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • More Than 20,000 Displaced As Myanmar Junta Burns Homes Around World Heritage Site

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Using Conscripts as Cannon Fodder, Defectors Say

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Crisis Spells Opportunity for U.S.-India Cooperation

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Indian Top Brass Visit Myanmar After Cross-Border Drone Attack

    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.