As the upcoming military-sponsored National Convention draws near, a Shan known for his influence among different activist groups, has urged for a multi-pronged approach among the opposition to break the existing political deadlock in Burma. 

Wansai a.k.a Sai Myo Win, General Secretary of the exiled Shan Democratic Union, counselled a seminar in Oslo today that the three main strategic options at hand: 

• To lobby for regime change 

• To attend the forthcoming National Convention 

• To lobby for "power mediation" were "a hard nut to crack" each by itself. 

The first, regime change, he says, seems "a hard strategy to sell", given the United States and United Kingdom's problematic situation in relation to Iraq and Afghanistan, while the second option, attending the National Convention, "could only be a replay to keep the military in power." (Shwe Ohn, Chairman of the banned Democratic League for the National Races of Shan State, put it another way: it would be like helping the de facto government to become a de jure government). 

The third option, lobbying for "power mediation", where the mediator has the power to persuade the parties to obey, could also be difficult, given the sympathetic countries are reluctant and undecided. 

"In such a situation, it looks like the SPDC's roadmap initiative or convening the National Convention to produce a constitution is the only game in town." he said. 

Wansai's proposition is for the opposition to adopt "a common goal, diverse actions" policy by incorporating all the three options: 

• To encourage ethnic ceasefire groups to participate in the National Convention where they might "assert some change from within, gradually making it possible to level the playing field and widen the political space" 

• For the remaining armed resistance groups "to be open" for ceasefire talks and participation in the National Convention 

• For the NLD, as the elected party, to continue with its protest, political mobilization and defiance 

• For the SNLD and the 8-party United Nationalities Alliance to continue calling for Tripartite Dialogue as a prelude to National Convention 

• For the exiled groups to continue lobbying for more effective sanctions, pressures and "power mediation" 

The common aim for all there diverse actions would be on "leveling the playing field" and "widening the political space" where all could participate in a fair and equal manner, he said. 

Wansai also admonishes all those concerned to stop thinking of Burma in terms of majority-minority configuration. "Burma was formed in 1947 by virtue of the Panglong Agreement ... signed between Ministerial Burma,... Federated Shan States, Chin Hill Tract and the Kachin Hill Tract," he reminds the meeting. 

"Thus the indigenous groups of Burma .. are not minorities or majorities but equal partners in a union of territories, the Union of Burma." 

"The Ethnic Dimension of the Conflict in Burma, jointly organized by the Danish Burma Committee, Norwegian Burma Committee and Olof Palme Foundation, is held at the Nobel Institute in Oslo. Other participants include Chao Tzang Yawnghwe; Dr Aye Kyaw(Arakanese) of New York University; Dr Laraw Maran (Kachin) of Kachin-Americans and friends; Naw May Oo (Karen) of Karen National Union and Cham Toik (Mon) of Mon Unity League.

For the full report, see attachment