KIO to retain Panglong Agreement in next peace talks

The Kachin Consultative Assembly has made a remarkable announcement with regards the 1947 Panglong Agreement that it must be brought into discussions before the delegation of Myanmar government and Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) will meet for negotiations this week, Mizzima news report.

The statement came after a meeting between Kachin Christian religious leaders and representatives of all Kachin ethnic groups last week in state capital Myitkyina.

According to Gam Aung, secretary of the Kachin Consultative Assembly the main objective of the discussion is to let the people of Kachin to say and express their issues and concern and to tell their needs.

The signing of the Panglong Agreement was done on February 12, 1947 headed by Burmese army Gen. Aung San and representatives from Chin, Shan and Kachin people. It stated terms in post independence for Burma including full autonomy for frontier people as well as establishing Kachin State.

The Kachin Consultative Assembly added that one of the reasons why there is a continuous armed conflict in Kachin State is because the Panglong Agreement has been ignored by the central government, the report said.

 Original source: http://www.betweenonline.com/2013/05/27/kio-to-retain-panglong-agreement-in-next-peace-talks/