Shan, Kayah Ethnic Groups call for new Constitution

Burma's Shan and Kayah states represented by 21 ethnic groups held a meeting last Wednesday to talk about plans of putting an end regarding armed conflicts with the government and asking for the amendment of the constitution, RFA news reported.

The Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) is the organizer of the three-day forum. Various political parties and armed ethnic groups were invited to participate in the said event.

The main objective is to build trust among the different groups and discussions have reached the government of President Thein Sein about greater political representation.

For groups that did not forge a ceasefire with the government they will not join in the forum. Senior government officers will act as observers.

According to Sai Lake, secretary of the SNLD, all the 21 groups joining the forum disapproved of the 2008 constitution since the ethnic groups were not given enough representation in the government. Different organizations and ethnic parties share the same sentiments that genuine and long lasting peace will not be attained because they see weaknesses in the constitution.

A government official whose name was withheld disclosed that amending the constitution will take time so it is best to consider making a new constitution.

One of the goals they are pushing for is to achieve equal rights and for them to make their own law. Only then that the peace they are yearning for can be realized. They said that they even expect to [back] a union military, the report said.

Original source: http://www.betweenonline.com/2013/03/21/shan-kayah-ethnic-groups-call-for-new-constitution/