Some 150 Shan representatives from all over the country are expected to participate in the 3 day conference in Rangoon next week, according to organizers of the event and the prospective participant.

The meeting, 26-28 November, is to be held at Taw Win Hninzee, Shwe Gondaing road.

Organizers, since the beginning of November, have been busy conducting survey in states and regions where sizeable Shan communities are living: Shan, Kachin, Sagaing, Mandalay, Pegu, Rangoon and others.

A copy of the 10-page questionnaire details questions on several burning issues: politics, armed movements, community-based organizations, population census in 2014, education, drugs, Shans who have been assimilated, economy and social institutions.

Key questions include:

• 8 states (Burma Proper as one constituent state) or 14 states/region: which one will be more suitable for a genuine federation?
• Should Shan parties merge? What are the pros and cons?
• Should Shan armed movements merge?
• What should Shan armed movements, political parties, government and CBOs do to make sure that no Shan is deprived of the right of a Shan State citizen?
• Should Shan language, history and culture be used and taught in government-run schools?
• Who should take responsibility to promote Shan language, culture and values among Shans who have been assimilated?
• Should the people of Shan State have the right to be informed, consulted and to decide on investment and economic policies in Shan State?

Expected high profile participants include Vice President Sai Mawk Kham, President’s Office ministers U Aung Min and U Soe Thein, noted scholars Sai Aung Tun, Dr Sai Hsang Ai, Dr Sai Kham Lake, Yin Yin Nwe aka Sao Ying Noi Mangrai, Dr Nang Hawm Lake, Hkun Htun Oo, Lt-Gen Hso Ten and Brig-Gen Pawng Kherh, among others.

The Trustbuilding for Peace Conference, as the meeting is officially titled, is planned to be the first crucial step in the peace process, to be followed by state-level and union-level conferences.