The Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) Vice-Chair, Dr. Slai Hlan Hmone has called for self-government laws guaranteeing the right state to self-determination, to be included into the five basic principles of the Federal Union Accord-3.
Dr. Salai Lian Mon said, “The State Constitution was left out of the Union Accord-3 [for the upcoming] Fourth Meeting of 21st Century Panglong Union Peace Conference. If possible, I want to urge [for it to be included] before the conference.”
He pointed out that the state constitution was the most important of the federal principles demanded by ethnic groups for more than 70 years and has been the main reason for ethnic insurgency.
“If there is no way to include it in this conference, I would like to urge the next conference to try together to sign it, into the Union Agreement. Because this is the main point to have peace for our country” he added.
In the Burmese version of the State Constitution, the government refers to the state principle constitution; in ethnic interpretations, it is referred to as a state constitution. The decision on whether to include it as a “principle” in previous meetings has been left unresolved.
U Zaw Htay a spokesperson for the Government said in a recent press conference “On the other hand, we hope that the term, ‘self-determination’, in the Union and the State will be resolved if further discussions are held.”
The Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) held their meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, on August 17. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Chair of UPDJC said that, “Union Accord-3 is to be signed at the upcoming 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference, and it is very important for the peace process.”
A total of 54 representatives from the Government, the Hluttaw, the Tatmadaw, and ethnic armed organizations as well as political parties are included in the UPDJC.
