Excellent piece that also pinpoints the 8 disagreement between the government-military and its counterparts, the ethnic nationalities political parties and the ethnic armed organizations.

The 3 disagreements have to do with democratic value, rights of self-determination and adopting the ethnic states’s constitutions. It said in the 3 points that all must adhere to the military-drafted 2008 constitution and be in line with it.

As all know that the military-drawn constitution is neither democratic nor federal in any sense, besides allowing the military to be sitting at the helm of all political decision-making, the ethnic nationalities are not about to scam to the government-military demand. After all, they are struggling all along to regain their birthright self-determination, democracy, equality within the mold of a genuine federalism, and would be hard to give in to the military demand.

Again, what the State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi claimed to be a major step forward, on 37 principles that would be included in the future Union Peace Accord, is also questionable, as it was not taken in line with the Framework for Political Dialogue (FPD).

If one looks at the following guidelines from FPD on how the Union Accord should be promulgated, it was not taken in accordance with the procedure.

To negotiate and decide in good faith any issues that may arise between and among the dialogue partners in order to achieve lasting and sustainable peace, the following will be undertaken in accordance with paragraph 1 subparagraph (h) of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement.

6.1. All matters shall be resolutely discussed at the Working Committee level.

6.2. Important matters submitted to the Union Peace Conference by the Working Committees including those related to the establishment of a Union based on federal principles, national security, and security reintegration must be approved by at least 75 percent of the attendees from each group, and by at least 75 percent of all the attendees.

6.3. Except for the matters of subparagraph 6.2, all other matters submitted to the Union Peace Conference by the Working Committees must be approved by at least 50 percent of the attendees from each group, and by at least 65 percent of all the attendees.

Thus, it is more of a discord than accord, if one is to answer to Nyan Hlaing Lynn correctly posed question.

Link to the story: http://frontiermyanmar.net/en/accord-or-discord-at-panglong