Vision for the Future

The ENSCC firmly believe that the crisis in the Union of Burma today is rooted in a political problem, specifically a constitutional one – the non-adherence to the spirit of Panglong.

The ENSCC believes that differences can be overcome through political means, i.e. through political dialogue, negotiations and compromise. The ENSCC, therefore, welcomes the current ‘Talks’ between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).

The ENSCC is confident that these ‘Talks’ will lead to a wide-ranging and in-depth political dialogue, involving all stakeholders that will eventually lead to a new constitutional arrangement between the various constituent states of the Union of Burma as was envisioned in 1947.

The ENSCC recognizes that in order to oversee a smooth transition to democracy, a ‘Transition Authority’ or government may have to be formed.

The ENSCC is of the opinion that the ‘Transitional Authority’ must make it a priority to convene a new ‘Panglong Conference’ or convention of representatives of the constituent states of Burma to determine how all parties and ethnic nationalities can work together to rebuild the nation.

In order to be able to draft a new constitution expediently, the ENSCC proposes that the following principles be agreed upon by all participants:

MORATORIUM - In the initial stage of the transition, before a constitutional arrangement between the historic states of the Union is decided upon, all parties should agree to refrain from attempting to subdivide or change the boundaries or names of the current states and divisions. All issues of concern should be addressed in subsequent constitutional talks.

HUMAN AND CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS – Agree that all citizens of the Union regardless of their ethnic or social background, religion or state of residence, have the same basic human and democratic rights. It should be further agreed that illegal immigrants have the basic human rights as set up in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They, however, do not have the same democratic rights as citizens. Cultural and religious rights should also be respected.

DECENTRALIZATION – Agree that all states within the Union should consider decentralizing their administrative structures to enable the multi-ethnic societies in their midst to function in harmony with their respective neighbours and prevent the unjust domination of one group over the other. Decentralization, however, should not be taken to mean that the national government cannot have national policies that will benefit the whole nation.

INCLUSIVE REPRESENTATION – Agree that an inclusive representation system should be considered for all electoral processes within the Union including state and local elections, in order to enable smaller ethnic grouping to participate fully in the political process. Such a system will enable multi-ethnic societies to function in harmony with their respective neighbours and prevent the unjust domination of one group over the other.