By Banyar Aung / Mon News Agency / BNI Online | July 31, 2018

Banyar Aung, the editor of the Mon News Agency, interviewed Naw Zipporah Sein, spokesperson of the KNU Concerned Group and former vice-chair of the Karen National Union (KNU).

Q: How would you like to review the recent 21st Century Panglong Conference?

A: The outcome of the third session of the 21st Century Panglong Conference did not include any political issues. There’s no political guarantee for the ethnic people in the outcome. When we look back at the entire process, discussion has been held twice at the conference. When we review the reason for the lack of political outcome, we are unable to discuss the issue as it has been restricted by the military. There are political sectors and subjects that need to be discussed in the 21st Century Panglong, but the outcome of the discussions in the five sectors doesn’t contain any guarantees for political demands, which are truly desired by the ethnic people. If we look at the political sector, gender equality was prioritized in the discussion. The ethnic people are demanding better political guarantees than this. We can’t say gender equality is the essence of politics. But, one of the good points is that gender equality and women’s participation are issues that needed to be discussed. But if we look back now, the role of women’s participation has been discussed but there’s no guarantee for women in the outcome. For example, “to encourage a minimum of 30 percent involvement of women in each sector”… this ‘encourage’ is not a guarantee.

Q: What’s your opinion on the speeches given by the heads of state?

A: Senior General Min Aung Hlaing’s speech is clear. We can’t accept his speech because they, the army, don’t express the political desires of the ethnic people in the peace process, which is being carried out. They only express their desire to hold on to the power.

[He said] the army represents the entire country. We absolutely can’t accept it. The army doesn’t represent [the country]. They have the duty to protect the country and the people. Actually, the army should be under the administration. It should be a group of civil servants. Another point – he said we have to proceed under the NCA. Saying that they are not weak is a threat. Rather than proceeding with threats, if they speak about how to resolve the issue, how to find the solution if they truly desire military reform. If they continue to use power and pressure and say these things, we worry that it will create many hindrances in the peace process.

Q: It is said the NCA agreements can amend the 2008 Constitution, but according to the commander-in-chief’s speech, only chapter 12 can be amended in the 2008 Constitution. What do you want to say?

A: This is clear. They won’t allow the constitution to be amended. They won’t open the path. In the past, they have repeatedly said that they will sacrifice their lives to protect the 2008 Constitution. This is already clear. What they have reaffirmed in this conference is also clear, but we can only amend it with restriction. Amendments have been made under the 2008 Constitution, but they are not important. They cannot be the reforms that are expected by the ethnic people.

Q: What suggestions do you want to give to the ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) concerning the ongoing peace process?

A: The political issue of Myanmar is the political issue of ethnic people. The ethnic people need to stand in unity. Especially, the EAOs need to stand firmly on the aim and expectation. We have been fighting for over 60-70 years for equality. If the ethnic people don’t have a strong stance, our hope and fight may become a waste. If you look at the peace process now, we can’t proceed in this situation. We can’t proceed to [achieve] the political goal that is desired by the ethnic people. This needs to be reviewed. We need to review on how to proceed for peace and how to reduce the setback. What I mean is not a cancellation of the ongoing peace. How will we do the setback? If something went wrong during the fighting, what are the best solutions for fixing it?

Now, both Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing have said that the Panglong Conference will only be held thrice before 2020. The NCA was signed over two and a half years ago and it’s going to reach its third anniversary soon. No guarantees have been received from these political dialogues. We need to think about whether we can discuss political desires and find the solutions in the next three sessions of the conference.

Q: What else would you like to add?

A: Whether the EAOs, ethnic parties, the public, or youths – the ethnic people’s desire and political stance…there should only be one [stance]. We can all resolve the political issue of Myanmar only when there is only one [stance]. The path the ethnic people need to take is peace, which is desired by the public. Everyone has the duty in reforming Myanmar. It’s not only the duty of the Tatmadaw. It’s the duty of the public. All of us need to be united and find the solution.

Thank you.

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This article originally appeared on BNI, July 31, 2018.

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