Day 3: Sunday, 17 January 2016
When states had been allowed to set up, it was not because we thought it was a good idea. A country that is only as big as a plum such as ours should not be divided into several states.
(U Nu, Prime Minister, speaking to the People’s Assembly on 7 March 1957, quoted in Tun Myint Taunggyi’s “To join or to part”)
Switzerland is a small country, 15,940 square miles, only one-sixteenth of Burma in size, and one-quarter of Shan State, in particular. Only a little bigger than Shan East, one may say.
And take a look at its states (called cantons) and communes (roughly comparable towards/village tracts), and you’ll realize what I’m trying to say:
| Switzerland
26 cantons 2,294 communes/municipalities (as of 1 January 2016) | Shan State
55 townships 2,048 wards/tracts |
What’s more, like Shan State, it’s a landlocked country. Its chief sea outlet is only through Genoa in Italy. And until the 19th century, it was one of the poorest countries in Europe.
The similarities unfortunately end there. Now, the differences:
- It has no rich natural resources such as gold, gems, silver, or other minerals, to speak of like Shan State
- However, unlike Shan State, its principal work force is not in the agricultural sector, but in other areas, as the following figures show:
Agricultural 1.3%
Manufacturing 27.7% (Export of watches in 2011 alone fetched US$ 19.3 billion)
Services 71%
And how does a jack like that become a king? And a model for country likes ours?
“Our history is our model,” Dr Nicole Topperwien, expert consultant on federalism, tells us this morning. “Every country needs its own model.”
In 1291, three of the cantons came together to form an alliance against the invading Habsburgs. As time went by, it grew and became a confederation. Calls for more centralization and more democracy culminated in a new constitution in 1848, which established a federal democracy. The official name, however, remains Swiss Confederation to this day.
Here are the powers shared among its 3 levels of government: federal, cantons and municipalities, for comparison with ours:
| Federal Powers | Cantonal Powers | Municipalities’ Powers |
| -Organization of Federal Authorities -Foreign Affairs – Army and civil protection -Protection of the Environment (concurrent) -Principles of Zoning (concurrent) -National Streets (Highways) -Energy policy (concurrent) -Nuclear Energy -Postal services and telecommunication -Monetary policy -Agriculture (concurrent) -Social security 9pensions, invalids) -Civil Law, Criminal Law -Civil and Criminal Procedure -Customs -Federal Taxes -Citizenship | -Organization of Cantonal authorities (own constitution, own anthem, own flag) -Education -Culture -Police -Relations between Religion and State -Protection of Nature and Heritage -Public Health -Cantonal Streets -Forests; Water, natural resources -Cantonal Taxes -Citizenship | -Organization of Municipal Authorities -Kindergarten and Primary Schools -Waste Management -Municipal Streets -Local Infrastructure -Local Police -Zoning -Municipal Taxes -Citizenship |
The central government, called the Federal Council, has only 7 members, one of whom is a rotating president as well as head of one of the 7 ministries:
- Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications
- Finance
- Foreign affairs
- Justice and Police
- Economy, Education and Research
- Interior
- Defense
As for the parliament, which has two chambers, the formula is: 46 (2 for each canton)* for the upper and 200 for the lower. In 1918, the proportional representation (PR) system was introduced. (Many question why there should not be 52 representatives in the Council of States or the upper chamber, as we did. It was explained to us that because 6 of the cantons are considered only half-cantons.)
The other system any Swiss will proudly points out is the direct democracy:
| Direct Democracy -Any amendment of the constitution needs a popular vote with a double majority* -Popular initiative for the amendment of the constitution (to act) -Referendum against legislation (to reach) |
*Double majority means not only a majority of people but also a majority of cantons must vote for amendment.
For instance, the secession of Jura from Bern as a separate state in 1978 was not only decided by the region concerned, but also by a vote at the federal level. “Because any secession may have consequences in other cantons too,” she explains.
Dr Topperwien obviously has many things to tell us so we can prepare ourselves for meetings being organized for us during our stay. The only problem is that she only has 3 hours to do that. We are sorry about that too, because we would love to learn more about their party as well as court systems.
After lunch, we are driven to Avenches (a derivative from Aventia, the Romans’ spring goddess), just 15 minutes away from Murten, to see the Roman ruins, out of which only the amphitheater seems to be in one piece, almost any way. Walking both inside and outside there inevitably brings to mind Russell Crowe fighting for his life against Joaquin Phoenix in the 2000 epic film ‘Gladiator’. The Romans governed the region for nearly 500 years, from 1st century BC to the end of 4th century AD, according to our guide.
At 16:30, we return to the hotel to discuss our program for tomorrow, which includes three meetings with the foreign ministry officials and a visit to the parliament.
By SAI KHUENSAI / Director of Pyidaungsu Institute and Founder of Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N)
All views expressed are the author’s own
