Following
is the full text of the speech delivered by State Counsellor and Union Minister
for Foreign Affairs Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at the signing ceremony of New Mon
State Party and Lahu Democratic Union in Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement-NCA.
Today’s
ceremony is the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement – NCA between the
Union Government and the Ethnic Armed Organizations.
Although
the number of Ethnic Armed Organizations is not that many, the journey to make
this happen successfully is not that easy. This is the decision to make the
first step to jointly lay the foundation stone of the Democratic Federal
Republic that will emerge in the future for national reconciliation and union
peace.
I
therefore solemnly wish to honor and warmly welcome the New Mon State Party and
the Lahu Democratic Union who have bravely taken this step.
NCA
– the beginning of the Peace Process
NCA
is not the end of the Peace Process. NCA is the beginning of the Peace Process,
the beginning of the political dialogues, the beginning of reduction of armed
conflicts; it is the beginning of the political process that will result from
the resolution of political problems through negotiations, discussions and the
joint search for solutions. Our internal armed conflicts were born together with
our independence. Today it is now over 70 years. Those countries which gained
independence the same time as us and those countries which have become
independent after us have now gone far ahead. As for our ethnic nationals, and
our people, we are still living in fear and instability amidst the internal
armed conflicts. They had to flee their hearths and homes because of the
conflicts. The sounds of reciting lessons have ceased and the farms have become
overgrown with weeds. The most important thing is the fact that the children of
our ethnic nationals had to flee for their lives.
Because
of mistrusts, hatred and the evil effects of armed conflicts, these regions
could not develop, could not progress and to this day have still lagged behind.
Our people have to confront and live in fear on a daily basis. Up to this day
in the 21st century, darkness still envelops the future of our ethnic
nationals’ children. This situation has lasted for so many years. We have not
been able to achieve peace. This is sorrowful as well as pathetic. Our future,
and the future of our new generations have not seen the rays of light up to
this day. It is said in the world at large. Those countries which achieved
great progress after suffering the effects of war have said that after suffering
the effects of war, the spirit and desire to work hard and struggle with unity
becomes stronger. As for our country, this has not happened. It has not
happened up to this day.
As
the news of the signature ceremony came out today, the people in those regions
were feeling joyous and happy. We heard the good news. The first significant
change for the people is the disappearance of the fears that have resulted from
the armed conflicts. The knowledge that they are no longer unlawful
associations and no longer terrorist organizations, there is less fear in
talking to them and relating with them. The knowledge that conflicts will end
make them see a happy future. By looking at the other states which have seen
peace and development, hopes have arisen for socioeconomic progress and change.
We have seen the emergence of areas which are free from fear.
It
is true that there have been bilateral agreements between the two
organizations. However, there were no provisions as to how negotiations would
be made, and no mechanisms for negotiations. I wish to call the NCA a new
beginning. It has been initiated to reduce armed conflicts; if there are
disagreements, instead of resorting to fighting, to solve the problems at the
negotiating table through discussions and negotiations.
At
the same time, in the NCA there are agreements for formulating policies and
frameworks for political dialogues and for initiating various steps of
political dialogues for the emergence of political dialogues that will result
in the establishment of the Democratic Federal Republic. In our country,
throughout the ages, there have been various efforts to organize round tables
for political dialogues, but without success. All of us accept that the root
cause of internal armed conflicts is the failure to solve political problems
through political means. During the administration of President U Thein Sein,
he made arduous efforts to initiate the peace process which resulted in the
NCA. For these efforts I wish to express again my thanks on behalf of the
country and the people from this podium. During the term of our Government, we
have not only initiated the political dialogues but also as part of the Union
Accord, we have been able to sign (37) political agreements at the Second
Session of the Union Peace Conference – 21st Century Panglong.
If
we look back at our history, this is not only the first political dialogue but
a new political paradigm which has been achieved through our efforts. Political
agreements were reached only after establishing policy frameworks and
procedures systematically. Although this is our first experience, I have been
greatly encouraged by the way our Government, the Hluttaw, the Tatmadaw
component, the EAO’s component, the political parties component and component
for those that should be included have participated in the UPDJC – Union Peace
Dialogue Joint Committee, sector-wise meetings, working group meetings and at
the conference meetings. They participated with heart and soul immersing
themselves in the issues. They deliberated, assessed and negotiated with
eagerness and passion on the basic principles for the establishment of the
Democratic Federal Republic. It may be regarded as the first step in our
history.
However,
there are those organizations which have not joined the peace process and some
organizations still remain to join. They are those who have participated all
along in the negotiations but have not joined the peace process due to various
reasons. In the north, there are still armed conflicts in some areas. Although
the light of peace is shining brightly in southern Myanmar, this light has been
unable to cover the whole country. All of us need to continue working
individually.
Firm
resolve to establish the Federal Republic
Since
the time we gained independence, we have lost much energy due to armed
conflicts. Because there was no peace, there was no stability and we lagged
behind in many areas of development. As a result, our country became one of the
Least Developed Countries. Our country suffered, our people suffered and the
future of our Union suffered. Today at this time, our coutnry is facing many
challenges and difficulties. As all of you know, in the community of nations,
our country is facing many pressures and criticisms; inside the country
differences of opinions and arguments are still going on. These are the bad
effects of our inability to unify diversity and transform it into strength. The
universe which is changing every second and today’s world will not wait for our
country. Are we going to leave behind the same country with armed conflicts for
our new generations or are we going to leave behind a unified and strong
country worthy of respect by others. I want to urge you all, today, from this
podium, that you should think about this seriously.
For
how much longer do our people have to wait? For how much longer will our
country’s armed conflicts continue to dominate? For how much longer will we
have to exist as a disunited country? Those who started these armed conflicts
are now no more. We have to endure their evil legacies. In our time, do we have
to live amidst war, the smell of gunpowder and the absence of green pastures?
We need to ask ourselves.
The
time has come for all of us make concerted efforts for a federal system for
establishment of a Union which our founding fathers yearned for; a Union with
Justice, freedoms and equal rights, and untainted by political ideologies. Our
country has borne the brunt for long; and the hopes of our people have dimmed
and diminished for more than 70 years. That is why I wish to solemnly state
hear that we should bring forth the NCA which is the prelude to National Unity.
The
mistrusts and hatreds of the past can cast a showdow on the present. This is
human nature. However, I wish to say that we should take the lessons of the
past and for the future of our country an the future of our people, let us take
one bold step forward. Leaving aside our weapons, let us meet at the
negotiation round table and try and discuss candidly like family members. I
wish to urge you to make a new initiative for the establishment of the Federal
Republic. Our National League for Democracy has made a solemn resolution to
walk on the path of the 21st Century Panglong Conference with resolute spirit
for the emergence of the Democratic Federal Republic which will be acceptable
to all. I wish to solemnly state here that no matter what difficulties and no
matter what challenges we may have to encounter, we will not lose sight of the
Federal goal and we will take firm and measured steps forward.
Future
plan for national reconciliation
I
said this at the NCA Anniversary celebration event. In the coming (s) sessions
of the conference, we will be striving to establish fundamental principles and
to lay a firm Federal foundation. That is why I wish to say again to join hands
with us and work with us with trust.
However,
our national reconciliation and journey to Federalism is not going to be smooth
and peaceful. Since the journey to peace is a long distance journey, it is
based on resolute spirit and faith. Up till now there have been ups and downs,
fits and starts and there have been many twists and turns. But we are not
disheartened. We will never give up. We will walk on and strive on. For our
next generations, for our ethnic national, for our country which has lagged
behind, we will continue our march on the path of national reconciliation with
indomitable spirit.
We
knew from the beginning that it was not easy. It was going to be difficult, and
that there were going to be many challenges. If it were easy, our country would
have achieved peace a long time ago. Our history has said it. Ethnic nationals
have said it. Everyone has said it. Observing professionals have said it. We
can achieve peace only when we have established a Federal system which is acceptable
to all our people and the whole country. As you all know, today, at this time,
history calls for Federalism. This is the path of liberation for our Union.
IF
so, people will ask what kind of federalism. It is none other than a federalism
which can build and sustain a united Union that will last long and endure for
our country and our peoples. In this world, there is no such thing as a federal
system which fits all countries. We have to build according to the country, its
history and, its society, as needed. We have to design the federal system of
the future Union collectively and through discussions and consultations. Our
country and our peoples need to be united. Only Unions which are united are
capable of practicing and maintaining a federal system firmly for the long run.
To establish unity, we need to firstly build trust and understanding. That is
why we have been inviting and negotiating with the remaining organizations to
come to our political negotiation round tables.
Even
after new organizations have signed the NCA, our future programme is clear. We
will continue to work with organizations which have already signed the NCA to
consolidate the ceasefire processes. We will continue with the political
dialogues. If differences of opinion crop up among us, we will sit down and
meet face to face to discuss and seek solutions with Panglong spirit. With the
organizations which have not signed the NCA, we will work to reduce armed
conflicts by meeting them and seeking solutions. We will strive to bring all
these organizations under the NCA umbrella and urge them to participate in the
political dialogues. We are going to carry out all these operations at the same
time in tandem.
Conclusion
In
conclusion, I wish to say with great seriousness that we need to bring forth
National Unity which has been lost in our country for many years. It we can
achieve National Unity, there is nothing we cannot accomplish together. In the
same way, if we cannot achieve National Unity, we will meet many difficulties
when we have to overcome huge challenges. Resilience is not weakness.
Negotiation does not mean giving in. It is important not to be afraid of
meeting for negotiations. As we march towards National Unity, we need to reduce
issues that could cause disunity and discord among us. We need to seek out
common points of agreement that could bring us together and make us more
united.
Today,
there are many things we need to fulfill and work for people and our country.
The time has come for us to be united to solve the problems of the people, to
remove instabilities that arise from anxieties due to unrest, and to give them
a safe and secure future. Our joint action will surely go a long way to
eliminate the mistrusts and hatred that originated in the past.
At
the moment, our people are watching the 21st Century Panglong with high hopes.
Our people will be judging our competitive maneuvers, our egos and our
revengeful attitudes, and how they have increased over time. If we carry with
us our successes and failures, it will harm our unity even further. The
opportunity to dispel the darkness caused by our inability to achieve peace due
to lack of unity is right now before our very eyes. This is the opportunity
given by history. This is the opportunity given by our people.
I
wish to remind all of you not to waste this opportunity. Do not be timid to
take a step forward. That we have to fear is the fear that lingers in our
minds. No one can know for sure what will happen in the future. We wake up
every morning not know what will happen. All of us do not know what we will
have to face on our path to national reconciliation. However, behind us, there
are people who have yearned and longed for peace for so many years. Although
there dreams for peace have become dim for many years, their desires and hopes
are still as brilliant as ever. Let us step forward bravely together with them,
with our people. We will face whatever comes. Solve any problem we encounter.
For
the emergence for a Democratic Federal Republic that can stand tall and strong
amidst the countries of the world, for a bright future for our next
generations, as we work hard together with our people, we will need “cetana”
(goodwill), wisdom, and bravery. With the kind of “cetana” that we should have
for the country, the kind of wisdom that can bring forth the fruits of
“cetana”, with the brave heart that dares to accomplish as directed by wisdom,
let us work for peace and national development tasks dutifully. This is what I
wish to urge and request you.
Thank
you all.
Ref;
The Global New Light of Myanmar
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