Burma: Aung San Suu Kyi Plans Ethnic Conference
Following her father’s vision of a federal, democratic Burma, recently released Aung San Suu Kyi plans to encourage ethnic dialogue at a national conference. These efforts could result in her renewed imprisonment in case the junta feels threatened in its power.
Below is an article published by the Asian Tribune:
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Her [Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s] courage and sincerity, inherited from her father [Aung San] can be vividly seen when she tackles the most crucial and sensitive question of the union of the country [Burma], which the Burmese Tatmadaw since ruling of Ne Win has been trying to prevent by imposing the Mahar Bama/Myanmar spirit on the ethnic nationalities and endeavouring to treat the ethnic nationalities as a conquered race rather than an as equal partners.
One could recollect that it was Aung San’s vision of a federal union, shared by the ethnic leaders of that time, which gave birth to the modern Union of Burma on 12 February 1947, better known as the Panglong Conference. But with the early death of Aung San, this concordat was never realised and instead was followed by more than half a century of civil war that still goes on to this day. Furthermore, successive military regimes have identified the federal movement as a threat to their hold on power.
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Now, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's efforts to organize “an ethnic conference in conformity with the 21st Century”, which is labeled “second Panglong” - a meeting of ethnic leaders and other relevant stakeholders - will not only solve Burma’s problem of laying down the basic democratic principles but will also guarantee the rights of the ethnic nationalities, somewhat like killing two birds with one stone.
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Many, including the self-style Burmese experts (Burmese and foreigners alike) failed to understand that this conflict of interest over the constitutional principles between the Myanmar ethnic and non-Myanmar ethnic nationals is the root of the political crisis. This has paved way for armed conflict, hatred, disunity that finally leads to gross human rights violations. Now she is taking all this by the horns [recognising that there] is but one solution to solve the conflicts and crisis in Burma and that is to have a constitutional dialogue among pro democratic groups led by NLD, the Junta and the non-Myanmar ethnic nationals and to allocate the problems within federal constitutional principle, which will not only fullfill the ethnic nationals’ interests but also safeguard the Myanmar interests, leading to democracy.
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But with this historic move Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the country's reclusive generals are heading towards an indispensible collision because the Generals do not want to share power with anybody else.
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Daw Aung San Suu Kyi realises her marginalized position but hopefully with the help of China, and probably India, she intends to work towards renewed ceasefire agreements especially with regards to the Northern Alliance of Kachin and Wa (the Southern Alliance of Karen, Mon and Karenni are already fighting) and enlist the support in preventing a possible crackdown on her and the Second Panglong Conference.
However, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is the only person in Burma with moral authority and could enlist the people en masse. Her call for national reconciliation appeals to every Burmese even the young Turks, and her appeal to rethink the Western punitive actions including sanctions have a great influence on the Generals craving international legitimacy.
2011 will be crucial and critical for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma's political and economic trajectory as she will have to test the limits of Than Shwe’s tolerance and willingness to pursue political reform. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, listed as one of the 100 top thinkers of the 21st century, will have to take […] risks for the Junta will probably be assessing whether their experiment of her release succeeds […]. If they sense that increased instability is the likely outcome of her freedom, the leadership will likely revert to old practices, including increasing the military's role in maintaining order and possibly finding an excuse to again arrest her.
On the other hand, if the Junta believes their gamble has paid off - and that the economic and diplomatic gains from her release outweigh the threat to their control over the country – then there is hope for the Second Panglong Conference.
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