Myanmar's ethnic leaders, activists agree on federalism

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Mae Sai, Thailand

The recent wave of protests in Myanmar has resulted in the country's ethnic leaders and anti-junta organizations agreeing on a common platform of federalism.

Speaking separately, both Shirley Seng, chairman of the Kachin Women's Association (Kwat), and Shwe Myo Thant, secretary-general of the Nationalities Youth Forum (NYF), said that seven major ethnic groups representing all seven states in Myanmar had agreed to establish the Ethnic National Council (ENC).

"We have agreed to give up our demands for independence, and instead will ask for autonomy in our own states in the form of federalism," Seng, a prominent ENC figure, told The Jakarta Post at her office in Chiang Mai on Monday.

The seven major ethnic groups in the country are the Mon, Karen, Karenine, Shan, Kachin, Chin and Arakhan. Myanmar consists of seven states and seven divisions, in which dozens of ethnic groups live. The divisions are mainly inhibited by the Burmans, who make up approximately 60 percent of Myanmar's population of 58 million people.

Shwe Myo Thant, whose organization is made up of 12 ethnic groups, said the ENC and other national anti-military movements, including the National Coalition Government (NCG) which is in exile, had met and agreed on the common platform of federalism.

"We have pledged to go together based on the same platform. We know that Aung San Suu Kyi (the detained leader of the National League for Democracy) agrees with the federalism we propose," he said.

Each major ethnic group and their military wings have been fighting for independence or autonomy since the country was liberated from British rule.

But with empty promises concerning development coupled with terror and violence, the military junta has succeeded in suppressing uprisings in the country.

National anti-junta movements have been sporadic in the past and have disregarded the key role the country's ethnic groups can play in helping achieve their goals.

Many people see common platforms among ethnic groups and between ethnic groups and nationalist movements as crucial to negotiating an acceptable compromise with the junta, or continuing to fight for a regime change if negotiations fail.

"All of us now realize the importance of cooperation between ethnic groups and national movements. That is why we demand a tri-party dialog between representatives from the military government, ethnic groups and national organizations," Shwe Myo Thant said.

Both the NYF and Kwat have started working with ethnic organizations to empower them and inform them of their rights, including the right to have a democratic government.

Among their programs, Kwat provides training to Kachin women so they can avoid being sold as sex workers, while the NYF trains and disseminates information to the young people of Myanmar.