UPC-21st Century Panglong panel chairman Pado Saw Kwe Htoo Win delivers closing speech

The following is an unofficial translation of panel chairman Pado Saw Kwe Htoo Win’s closing speech delivered at the Third Session of the UPC – 21st Century Panglong yesterday.

Dear members of the panel of chair, the State Counsellor, leaders and delegates attending the Union Peace Conference-21st Century Panglong, Mingalarbar.

As a member of the panel of chair, I am honored to speak on the success of the Third Session of the Union Peace Conference-21st Century Panglong on its sixth and last day.

There was a time when we were all taking up arms and fighting each other, sacrificing many lives in our struggle for our own political beliefs and stances. But now, here we are, people from former conflicts, sitting face to face, discussing, negotiating and debating national issues on a same level. On behalf of all people, I would like to express my thanks to the wise leaders who made it possible for us to reach this stage.

We have successfully completed six days of the Third Session of the Union Peace Conference – 21st Century Panglong. Let me specially thank all leaders and representatives from different groups actively engaged in all levels of dialogue, debating and coming to agreements.

Although the points agreed during this Third Session are not many in number, the essence is that they could lead to better results in establishing our future as a Union, based on democracy and federal system.

The points agreed at this Third Session of the Union Peace Conference – 21st Century Panglong will be added as the second part of the Union Accord. This is one more step taken towards implementing the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and one more accomplishment of the Union peace process.

This session of the 21st Century Panglong is beneficial to the nation. It is a conference during which we write in harmony the future of our country. Our decisions today should leave behind a bright future and a worthwhile legacy for our coming generations. If we fail to do so, we shall be remembered as failures throughout history.

The peace, stability and development of the nation are in our hands. It depends on our wisdom, compassion and sense of fairness. I believe our talks, discussions, debates and agreements are for the benefit of the nation and for all ethnic nationalities.

There are many lessons to be taken away from this Third Session. These lessons may be used to improve the work procedures for the next session of the UPC-21st Century Panglong to be held before the end of 2018.

We have different perspectives and opinions on our country’s formation, its history and events. Consequently, these differences have led to armed conflicts and the deterioration of democracy and national unity.

The root causes of past and ongoing armed conflicts in the nation can be traced back to political conflicts resulting from ethnicity and nationality. Armed conflicts are especially rampant in ethnic regions and it is up to us to end them. We have to solve the issues behind these conflicts.

I implore everyone to uphold the Panglong spirit in working for the cause of the Union benefiting the whole nation.

Myanmar News Agency

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar