Union Peace Conference-21st Century Panglong 3rd Session held

State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi opened the third session of the Union Peace Conference-21st Century Panglong yesterday in Nay Pyi Taw, inviting non signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) to join the peacemaking process for establishing a democratic federal union.

Following the opening ceremony, the third session of the Union Peace Conference-21st Century Panglong was held in the afternoon.

Day one of the conference was presided over by Dr. Tin Myo Win together with members of the panel of the conference U Aung Kyi Nyunt, Lt-Gen Tin Maung Win, Nai Han Thar and U Khun Maung Thaung.

In his opening address, Dr. Tin Myo Win called on all representatives at the conference to strive to reach an agreement on basic principles for establishing a federal democratic system through negotiations.

“It is important for all of us to value and grasp the rare opportunity given by history to lay down basic foundations for a democracy and a federal union,” said Dr. Tin Myo Win.

The Union Peace Conference-21st Century Panglong began with the country’s nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) as the top political dialogue.

At the third session of the conference, representatives will discuss proposal papers submitted by national-level political dialogues, groups and individuals.

“If we achieve a consensus on common agreements among diversities, our diversities will turn into strengths in the history of our Union,” said Dr. Tin Myo Win. He also praised the NCA for bringing the fruits of the ceasefire including peace and development to the people and for getting rid of fear among the people, and expressed his belief that the involvement of civilians in monitoring committees of the NCA will bring confidence and trust among the people in the peace making process.

When the peacemakers worked to gain good results from political dialogues and to move forward, they were making efforts to heal the differences in the past with mutual understanding and mutual respect, and to build unity in the place of conflicts, he said.

He continued to say that all are obliged to discuss basic principles for a federal system, which remained to be agreed upon, since the second session of the conference.

In his concluding remarks, Dr. Tin Myo Win said that the representatives have the responsibility to work in the interest of the Union, all ethnic people who long for peace.

Later, Secretariat Member of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee Sai Kyaw Nyunt read out the report of the work committee of UPDJC and Vice Chairman-1 of the Joint Monitoring Committee Saw Izac Phoe the report of the working committee of the JMC. Later, Secretariat members of the UPDJC submitted papers: Pado Saw Tar Doh Hmu submitted a paper on the political sector, Min Kyaw Zeyar Oo on the political sector, Sai Ngnin on the social sector, U Aung Soe on the farmland and environmental sector and Yebaw Myo Win on the security sector.

Following this, Daw Saw Mra Yazar Lin clarified the discipline to be followed by representatives at the conference.

During the political sector of the conference, proposals submitted to the conference focused on laying down policies on equality and non-discrimination between males and females, inclusion of 30 per cent of women in all sectors, laying down policies on preventing violence against men and women and promoting the capacity of women in support of the equality between males and females.

During the economic sector, a proposal submitted to the conference suggested giving authority to the region and state governments to adopt policies and to implement development projects in order to give priority to the interests of the people and to take into consideration that interests of other regions and states are not harmed.

The proposal for the social sector focused on inclusion of 30 per cent of women in decision-making for resettlement, rehabilitation and social development issues; on establishing an education-for-all system; a health care system which is accessible to all people; making laws for women’s rights, including rights for the aged, the disabled, children and pregnant women; taking into consideration social factors when social development projects are carried out; reducing the menace of narcotic drugs and effectively carrying out rehabilitation and development of child rights.

The proposal for the farmland and environmental sector focused on land ownership, environmental impact assessment and social impact and negotiation with local people for projects.

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar