According to U Aye Thar Aung, an Arakanese leader and chairmanship member of the UNA, the conference will be open strictly to UNA member organizations, UNA’s partner the National League for Democracy (NLD), ethnic political parties, the 88 Generation Open Society Group, ethnic community-based organizations and civil society organizations, armed group members of the United Nationalities Federation Council (UNFC), and other armed groups which have already signed ceasefire agreements with the government.
“The objective of this UNA-led conference, with its member and partner organizations and ethnic armed groups, is to find solutions for [Burma’s] political issues. On this [December 21st], representatives from UNA member organizations will meet and then submit a report; that report will then be discussed at the conference,” U Aye Thar Aung told IMNA.
U Aye Thar Aung continued that “the conference is [being] held to discuss topics [regarding] how to amend the constitution, how to restart postposed peace talks, what points should be discussed when political talks recommence, and to reach an agreement as how to fix [problems with] the 2008 Constitution.”
According to Nai Ngwe Thein, chairman of the Mon National Party (MNP), the MNP has already arranged for eight members to present at the UNA conference. Nai Ngwe Thein noted that besides discussing the ceasefire issue and the establishment of equality under a federal union, if time permits, the MNP would like to discuss the matter of teaching native ethnic languages in ethnic areas.
“Topics to be discussed during the conference include the ceasefire, equality, and [the creation of a] federal union. Then, we will also discuss about teaching our mother language. We will discuss this if we have time. If we do not [have time], we will only discuss [the first three issues],” said Nai Ngwe Thein.
The UNA is comprised of twelve ethnic political parties, including the political parties which contested, and won, the 1990 elections, such as the MNP, the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), and the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD). The UNA’s December conference will be the first of its kind.
