State or Ethnic Federalism? By Harn Yawnghwe According to State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the 21st Century Panglong Conference that is being held from 31 August to 4 September 2016, will discuss how a Federal Union can be established. But what kind...
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State or Ethnic Federalism? By Harn Yawnghwe According to State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the 21st Century Panglong Conference that is being held from 31 August to 4 September 2016, will discuss how a Federal Union can be established. But what kind of federalism do the stakeholders really want? Do they even want the same thing? Following independence in 1948, the quest for a federal union was put on hold after the new-born nation was convulsed by the revolution declared by the Burmese Communist Party and joined by the People’s Volunteer Organization. Three of the four battalions of the Burma Rifles also mutinied. The earliest concept of federalism was between the four signatories (British Burma, Federated Shan States, Kachin Hills and Chin Hills) and Kayah State. Although the Karenni States did not sign the Panglong Agreement to join the Republic of the Union of Burma, they were annexed as Kayah State. That is why, at independence, the Union flag had a star surrounded by five sm
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