Saw Mutu Sae Poe, KNU Chairman delivers opening address at 3rd Session of UPC-21st Century Panglong

The opening address made by Saw Mutu Sae Poe, Chairman of the Karen National Union at the 3rd Session of Union Peace Conference-21st Century Panglong is as follows:

Firstly I send my heartfelt wish for you to be blessed with physical and mental health and wealth, the State leaders, Hluttaw representatives, leaders of the Tatmadaw, political parties’ leaders, national ethnic armed groups’ leaders, UN Special Representative, diplomats, representatives from international organisations and representative leaders from various sectors and groups present at the 3rd session of UPC-21st Century Panglong, on behalf of the leaders representing national ethnic armed organizations.

The Nationwide Cease fire Agreement (NCA) was held at the former government’s tenure after negotiating with the government and ethnic armed organizations. The NCA was initially signed with 8 ethnic armed organizations, laying down a foundation for a peace process. During the time of the NLD-ruling government, all-inclusive peace processes are targeted to commence, and 2nd UPC was held, with the aim of achieving basic principles on political agreements which can be accepted by all. At the third session of the 21st Century Panlong Conference was held in May 2017, and 37 points signed as part of Union Accord.

By signing the first phase of the Union Accord, it has reached an important stage as it is implementing the fact of holding political dialogue included in the NCA. With the signing of two more ethnic armed organizations, there are a total of ten ethnic armed organizations that have signed the NCA. Holding the 3rd session of 21st Century Panglong is in compliance with the prescriptions included in the NCA, and it is of great political needs. Therefore, we must acknowledge the fact that we can manage to build mutual trust among us after overcoming difficulties through patience and repeatedly made negotiations. It is not just enough for us to mutually understand, the whole populace needs to understand. Accordingly, it is urgently needed to get favourable results from the present peace process, as aspired by all the national people, because smooth political transformation of Myanmar and success of peace process can be said to be similar to one another.

So it is necessary to strengthen trust among participants. Moreover, we wish for the emergence of mutual trust among those who did not take part in the peace process yet. We hope good results which will come out from the present third session of UPC-21st Century Panglong will help further the peace process. We are required to take inclusion of all those concerned into consideration without excluding any others. According to our experiences, we have learned that three basic foundations is needed to be laid down to solve political problems through political dialogue. Our Union can stand tall among the other countries in the world by dint of Panglong Agreement. In other words, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar was cofounded with union spirit, and it is of great important to safeguard and protect the non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of the National Solidarity and Perpetuation of Sovereignty by the entire ethnic people.

National Solidarity cannot be formed by means of military pressure and by force, but freedom, equality, justice, trust, understanding and empathy can bring success. We can build it by means of pragmatic work and can safeguard our union and sovereignty of the state through the efforts of our national integration.

It is needed to acknowledge the different backgrounds of national ethnic races, their traditional culture, language and national traits, and we can foster the emergence of a constitution which meets the democratic norms and can guarantee a democratic federal union; to make more efforts for implementation of the peace process; to reach the goal of “eternal peace” through political dialogue by cooperating between all national races of the Union with the Union Government.

Although the Union Peace Conference has been held for three times during the period of two years after signing NCA agreement, we could hold Political Dialogue only one time. We could not hold it within 6 months according to the prescribed frameworks of the Political Dialogue. The climax of this dialogue is to hold 21st Century Pinlong Peace Conference, thereby we can carry out political agreement, making approval of the proposals and signing the Union Accord through political dialogue. But we could not hold the Union Peace Conference at a prescribed time because of disagreements on the agenda of the meeting.

It is necessary to hold political discussions depending upon race, place and matters. We think that hastily-made political negotiations cannot help the national reconciliation and it cannot solve any problems. Long-lasting peace which will come out of the implementation of the NCA, and national reconciliation must be a win-win situation. I hereby conclude my speech with my heartfelt wish that we can discuss so that meaningful agreement will be reached, for national consolidation and peaceful cooperation.

In conclusion, today’s 1st Century Pinglong Conference was attended by the State leaders, Hluttaw Representatives, leaders of Tatmataw representatives, representatives from the ethnic armed organizations, representatives from the political parties, representatives from NGOs and representatives from ethnic minorities to negotiate and find solutions for peace, which plays a pivotal role in our future. I hereby make a solemn wish to you all to bring about resounding decisions for safeguarding the non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of the National Solidarity and Perpetuation of Sovereignty by the entire ethnic people. Thank you very much —Myanmar News Agency

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar