Day Three. Saturday, 4 March 2016

Politics is a lot tougher than war

You pay for a mistake with your life on the battlefield,

 but an error in the field of politics brings down an entire organization.

Anibal, Farc rebel commander, reported by AP, Bangkok Post, 31 January 2016

No authorities come to bother us all day. The conference, which is being held at a cramped room on the second floor of the SNLD office building, proceeds to its conclusion in the evening without disturbance, though no application for permission had been submitted beforehand.

Perhaps authorities think they’ve done enough. Or perhaps they have second thoughts and have decided the damage to the government’s reputation is not worth the trouble of jailing the ring leaders of the conference.

Nevertheless, there is concern reflected in the speeches of some of the leaders. Reactions to media reports of the NLD’s announcement yesterday that it is going to appoint all the chief ministers of the 14 states and regions. This is in spite of earlier reports that the party had agreed to appoint military nominees in Shan and Kachin states, in return for an undisclosed political concession from the latter. The latest report certainly is a strong indicator that the NLD-military relations might be going downhill. And the country with it, if not careful.

The meeting today reaches some important decisions:

• The Eastern Shan State Development Democratic Party (ESS-DDP) is admitted as a new member
• The SSJAC, the new chair, is assigned the job of drafting an amendment proposal to the 2008 constitution, a common policy toward non-Shan nationalities in Shan State, and a plan of action (timeline to be agreed later)
• A coordination committee for external relations is to be formed with one representative from each member organization
• A 9 men coordination committee for the political dialogue is formed. It is made up of top leaders and their advisors: Hkun Tun Oo, Sao Yawd Serk, Sao Hso Ten, Sao Gaifa, one from SNDP, Loong Hawng Kham (ESS-DDP), Sai Leik, Sao Khwan Mong and myself

While a team of participants led by Sai Leik goes upstairs to draft a press release, those remain have some discussions. Here are the notes I have taken:

• When Sai Nyunt Lwin was chosen to represent the SNLD in the NLD led government, a 5 point condition was attached: equal status, genuine federal union, right of self determination, amendment of the constitution and the carrying out of the peace process to a successful completion
• The system of local government, the third tier in a federal democracy, needs to be studied closely and applied in the Shan State, as a solution to the calls for separate statehoods ( one says Spain and Australia are the best models)
• People have been moving toward other parties, because of the inability of the existing Shan parties to reconcile among themselves. But once there is reconciliation, the people will return
• The People’s Militia Forces (PMFs) in Shan State should not be excluded from joining the CSSU

A press conference is held at 16:00. The day ends with a dinner party at Chok Somboon, a Chinese-Thai restaurant across the road from the SNLD office.

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