Ceasefire groups told to ditch legal pros

Politics

Ceasefire groups told to ditch legal pros

Burma's ceasefire groups have been "advised" by Rangoon to remove members trained in legal matters from their delegations that will attend the next session of the National Convention due to resume in the near future, according to a well informed source from northern Shan State.

"Last week, the Kachin Defense Army (Shan State Special Region #5) was summoned by the Military Intelligence #9 stationed in Lashio," said the source who solemnly requested anonymity. " The KDA officer was then told that a certain member be excluded from the group's deputation so the National Convention could move ahead without undue hitch."

The source later learned 3 other ceasefire groups, namely, the Kachin Independence Organization (Kachin State Special Region #2) Palaung State Liberation Army (Shan State Special Region #7) and Karenni Nationalities People Liberation Front ( Kayah State Special Region #2) were issued corresponding suggestions by the military authorities: "to leave our legal counsels behind in the coming session whenever it is."

The four together had been reportedly instrumental in bringing about the federal proposal that was submitted by 13 ceasefire groups during the last session that was held 17 May- 9 July, and was commended by UN chief Kofi Annan as " a positive development." Sources inside also claim the presentation had forced Rangoon to suspend the Convention.

The main points of the paper heatedly disputed by Convention conveners include the following:

• Concurrent legislative powers for the states

• Residuary powers to the states

• The states to draft their own constitutions

• Separate school curricula for states

• Separate defense force for states

• The states to conduct own foreign affairs in specific subjects

• Independent finance and taxation.

The 13 groups that co-authored the paper were Shan State Army "North," Kachin Democratic Army, Palaung State Liberation Army, New Democratic Army-Kachin, Kachin Independence Organization, Kayan National Guard, Karenni Nationalities People Liberation Front, Kayan New Land Party, Karenni National Progressive Party (splinter), Shan State Nationalities People Liberation Organization, New Mon State Party, Shan State National Army and Mon Armed Peace Group (Chaung Chi Region).