Union Day message to the people From the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) On the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the Union of Myanmar Created on 13 February 2017 Written by Taifreedom

Union Day message to the people From the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) On the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the Union of Myanmar

Created on 13 February 2017 Written by Taifreedom 

 

 

 Union Day message to the people
From the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA)
On the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the Union of Myanmar
On this auspicious occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the Union of Myanmar, RCSS/SSA
wishes all the people of all the constituent States and Regions of the Union a success in their
efforts to build and enjoy peace and a Federal Union with all of its essential characteristics.
Seventy years ago, at this time, leaders from the would-be constituent States of the current
Union, and representatives of the people, met at Panglong town to strive to forge unification
between the Hills (or Frontier Areas) and the Burma Proper (or Ministerial Burma) so that
they could gain independence from the British together at the same time, and form an
historically first ever Federal Union. The results of the meeting, the 1947 Panglong
Conference, were the Panglong Agreement and several other solemn promises, which later
led to independence and the forming of the Union as you have already known.
The most salient points among the promises and agreements reached during the course of
Panglong Agreement are: To establish a genuine federal union based on the principle of
equality; the autonomy in internal administration already enjoyed by any portion of the
Frontier Areas would not be deprived of in any manner; citizens of the Hills shall enjoy rights
and privileges which are regarded as fundamental in democratic countries; the arrangements
in the Agreement are without prejudice to the financial autonomy vested in the Federated
Shan States; which are sincerely stipulated in points 5, 7 and 8 of the Agreement.
However, since the promised federal union of equality could not be successfully established,
even more than (10) years after independence, a conference to amend the constitution was
held in 1961 in Taunggyi and the result of the conference, known as Shan Federal Proposal,
which contains principles of genuine federalism, was later presented in the Constituent
Assembly. This Proposal was one-sidedly accused of being an attempt to secede and forcibly
suppressed, prompting the Hill Peoples of the constituent States to take up arms to revolt
against the injustice.
Because of the conflicts following the destruction of the Panglong Agreement and broken
promises, peace has been lost and a civil war has dragged on for more than (70) years in the
country. In retrospect, this is because of the lack of opportunity in the past to address political
issues through political means.
Federalism is a system based on the willingness of the component parts to unify, and
designed to enable them to live peacefully together in accordance with the principles of
equality and the right of self-determination, with mechanisms for mutual checks and
balances. It is designed, not for powerful or majority people, but to protect the rights of the
weaker or minority people. It provides ways in which to guarantee the right to equality of
diverse peoples, enabling them to live together peacefully in unity with diversity.
At present, the Government of the Union of Myanmar and the Ethnic Armed Organizations
(EAOs) have been able to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) on 15 October
2015, and thus opening up the door for political negotiations, and further designating the
results of the future political dialogues to be the foundation on which the Federal Union is to
be implemented.
RCSS regards itself only as a bridge that paves the way towards peace. The tasks to indentify
the basic principles essentially necessary for the Union and to bring about national
reconciliation are in the hands of the people who are the original owner of the Union.
In the future political dialogues, ethnic nationalities and the people of the respective
constituent States and Regions should strive to achieve their federal rights with the spirit of
justice and equality, and the RCSS hereby pledges to follow suit and join hands with the
people.
Central Committee
Restoration Council of Shan State
Date: 12 February 2017

 

 

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