Members of the Ethnic Nationalities Affairs Centre (ENAC) are hosting talks with Burmese government representatives to discuss the nine ethnic affairs points drafted to support ambitions for the establishment of a federal union in Burma.

Civil society groups and members of the public have also been invited to the two-day forum, branded the ENAC Policy Field Consultation Workshop, which began yesterday in Shan State capital Taunggyi.

ENAC describes itself as an independent organization that supports the peace process and the development of democratic institutions in Burma.

Sai Nyunt Lwin, a member of ENAC’s board of directors and general secretary of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), said that the aim of this workshop is to clarify the policy recommendations so that they may be included in the drafting of a new constitution.

“Nine points were drafted on policies, including education, health, trade and investment, natural resources and taxation,” he said.

According to Sai Nyunt Lwin, ENAC previously held similar workshops in Yangon, Mon State’s Mawlamyine, Karen State’s Hpa-an, eastern Shan State’s Kengtung township and northern Shan State’s Lashio township. He said that they will continue to host forums in other parts of Burma in order to draw suggestions from the public.

“We aim to host such conferences in the areas where we have not already done so,” he said. “The next workshop may be in Chin State or Rakhine State.”

“We want to reach out to the public to hear their voices on this drafting policy,” he added.

Founded in July 2013, ENAC has been conducting trainings and workshops on the issues of economics, politics, security, land rights and resource management to civil society groups, ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and political parties.

By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)