Shan academic

Shan academic: Misconceptions of federalism led to decades of war and sufferings

A noted Shan scholar said on Friday (24 August) that the five-decade-long conflict in Burma was the result of misinterpretations of federalism. 

Dr. Chao Tzang Yawnghwe, advisor to the Canada-based National Reconciliation Program, said, "While some Burman leaders misconceive it as secession, some non-Burmans have mistaken it as submission to Burman enslavement." 

Federalism, he maintained, is a political arrangement where central, state and local governments work hand in hand. "There's nobody upstairs," he said. 

He was speaking at a 6-day long State Constitutions Seminar, 20-25 August, organized jointly by the two non-Burman umbrella organizations, the United Nationalities League for Democracy and the National Democratic Front near the Thai-Burma border. 

Janelle Saffin, Member of the Legislative Council from the State of New South Wales, Australia, who was there in the capacity as a resource person, concurred. "All the three levels of government are both independent and inter-dependent," she told the seminar. 

The seminar was participated in by 56 members from various state draft constitution committees and politicians, some of whom were Pu Lian Uk, Chinland; Htoo Htoo Lay, Karen; Abel Tweed, Karenni; Sunthorn Sriphanngern, Mon; Khaing Ray Khaing, Arakan; Sao Sengsuk, Shan;U Thein Oo, U Aung Htoo, Daniel Aung, Khun Markoban and Dr. Thaung Htun. 

"In a federation, not one level of government surpasses over the other two. If this idea is not accepted by us, all that remains is to fight on until no one remains alive," warned Chao Tzang. 
The military took power in 1962 accusing the non-Burman nationalities federal proposal of being a secessionist plot and has steadfastly refused to hand over power despite its thorough defeat in the 1990 General Elections.