The recent editorial of Frontier Myanmar titled: “Panglong and the art of compromise” question on a Bamar State creation need some serious debate or discussion, as the editorial appealed that Bamar ethnic aspirations should also need to be taken into account.

Why should it be unrealistic that the Bamar also has a state of its own? Or the editorial would like to imply that mixing the Bamar portion of territory with the Union Government, like it was done from 1948 to 1962,  is the way to go?

Everybody, who read recent history, knows that the usurpation of central powers – meaning: Union Government power – is a lack of equality and at the same time, lording over the non-Bamar ethnic nationalities, as Bamar’s colonial possession.

And all also know that the configuration of Burma Proper into 7 Divisions, which are later renamed Regions, giving equal basis as the non-Bamar ethnic states, is meant to do away with the ethnics’ checks and balances, veto power within the Nationalities Parliament.

And as such, what kind of acknowledgement and aspirations for the Bamar is the editorial talking about?

A continued Bamar ethnocentrism, staying above all non-Bamar ethnic groups or refusal to come down to equality level of State on par with the ethnic States?

The Mai Jai Yang’s argument that came out last month, although might not be perfect as yet, really has a pragmatic touch. What is wrong with the proposal to create a Bamar State, where Bamar population concentration is high and multi-ethnic States, where ethnically mixed Divisions or Regions are concerned? It is, in fact, a sound hypothetical proposal, which is worthwhile to do brainstorming, if not outright acceptance.

The recent, USDP-Tatmadaw rejecting the formation of a Bamar State and banking on “territorial-based” federal setup is rejecting the Panglong Agreement or treaty of 1947, which was literally agreed upon to be an ethnic-territorial-based political entity.

Like Aung San Suu Kyi just said, looking forward is a good approach in conflict resolution. But it is even better to also take into account the historical treaty and agreement, as a basis and applied innovation. Not just disregarding it, when the Bamar thinks they would lose their dominance of ethnic supremacy position vis a vis the other non-Bamar ethnic groups.

Time for the democratically enlightened Bamar political class, that cater to the making of genuine Federal Union of Burma, to clean themselves from ethnocentrism.

To read the said article, please go to the link below

http://frontiermyanmar.net/en/opinion/panglong-and-the-art-of-compromise