Regime Must Implement Panglong Agreement
By Network Media Group
Thursday, September 29, 2022
The Shan State Progress Party (SSPP), which is currently fighting with the Burma Army in northern Shan State, is demanding that the military regime implement nine key points, many of which date back to the Panglong Agreement, signed in 1947, which led to the establishment of the Union of Burma.
The SSPP issued the statement on 27 September after some of its leaders met with regime leaders for the second convening of the so-called peace talks in the capital Naypyidaw. The SSPP said the regime must respect democracy, human rights and federal values in order to build a federal democratic union. The government must also protect minority groups and accept diversity, self-determination and collective leadership.
SSPP wants the implementation of the Panglong Agreement and an agreement reached during the 1961 Taunggyi Conference, as well as the formation of a Bamar State, which it says will lead to the building of a genuine federal democratic union.
Five points must form the pillars of such a union in Burma: The people living in the ethnic states and the member states of the Union must retain their sovereignty, the federal democratic Union must be established with the member states having equal rights and retaining their self-determination, the member states in the Union have the right to draw up their own constitutions, power, resources and revenue must be shared among the member states of the Union and the federal financial system must be fully legitimate, security and defence for the federal Union must be under a democratic government and the armed forces must protect the people.
Several armed groups, including members of the failed Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and non-signatories attended the recent talks in the capital.
Restoration Council of Shan state, Arakan Liberation Party, Pa-O National Liberation Organisation, Lahu Democratic Union, Karen National Union, Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army – Peace Council and Democratic Karen Benevolent Army signed the so-called ceasefire, which has been condemned for its divisive design since it was adapted in 2015.
Those who have not signed it include most of the armed groups that are actually in conflict with the Burma Army, such as the SSPP, the Kachin Independence Army, the Arakan Army, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, the Karenni National Progressive Party and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance. The United Wa State Army and the National Democratic Alliance Army are not fighting with the regime, but have also opted out of the NCA.
