To Hopeland and Back The 21st trip for the 21st Century Panglong
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Dr Khammai Khammasami
(Photo: i1os.com)
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Day Five. Friday, 26 August 2016
I
speak Spanish to God,
Italian
to women
French
to men
And
German to my horse.
The
Global Negotiator
Today, Sai Kham Nood, Secretary of the Shan Literary and Culture Society
who’s also my nephew-in-law, drives me to the Shan State Buddhist University (SSBU)
that was inaugurated last February by founder Rev Dr Khammai Khammasami, the
Shans’ foremost religious leader.
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Shan State
Buddhist University (SSBU)
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The
classes haven’t started yet and the construction is still going on. “Already
there are several applications,” says Rev Kumara of Mongpan, Dr Khammasami’s
chief representative here, “but none from the Shan circle as yet.” He smiles
meaningfully.
The
university which is scheduled to become active beginning next year, he adds,
will be employing English as a lingua franca.
“Sao
Khu”, as Dr Khammai Dhammasami is known by his disciples,is certainly reaching
for the stars.
Day Six. Saturday, 27 August 2016
Every
negotiation has both cooperative and competitive components. Avoid adopting
either extreme.
The
Global Negotiator
Today
the RCSS holds a meeting at its Taunggyi liaison office to finalize its list of
delegates and the text of the presentation at the UPC 21 CPC.
As
Chairman Yawd Serk already has a “difficult-to-ignore engagement,” the movement
will be represented by Sao Khwan Mong, one of his closest and respected
advisors for the opening ceremony. Twelve other “attendees” (the conference
preparatory committee took the decision not to use “representatives”) let by
Brig Gen Pawng Kherh are approved. U Soe Min, a Hmong lecturer from the Lashio
University, is also chosen to take part in the “Ethnic Representatives”
category. Hmong, known as Meo and Miaozi in Burma, are unrepresented in any
political parties or armed movements in Burma, having only 15,000 of them in
the whole country, according to him.
As
for myself, I’m being billed as a “relevant invitee”.
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The SEA Game village, Naypyitaw
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Day Seven. Sunday, 28 August 2016
Increase the area of
opportunity by increasing your knowledge of each other.
The
Global Negotiator
Today
we return to Naypyitaw. As the SEA Game village, designated as our home away
from home, is yet to be opened, we put up at the Royal Lotus Hotel, where the
Committee for Shan State Unity (CSSU) is to hold a meeting tomorrow.
Day Eight. Monday, 29 August 2016
It
is important to avoid an adversarial approach.
The
Global Negotiator
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Royal Lotus hotel in
Naypyitaw
(Photo: booking .com)
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The
CSSU meets at 13:00. Representatives from all 4 of its principal members: Shan
Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), Shan Nationalities League for Democracy
(SNLD), Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and Shan State Progress Party
(SSPP). Plus the Taileng (Shan Ni) parties from Kachin and Sagaing.
The
topics to be discussed include:
·
Sharing views on the UPC 21 CPC
·
Cooperation in holding national level political dialogues (NPD) that
will follow the conference
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Dr Sai Mawk Kham
(Photo: INVC)
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·
State constitution drafting
·
Salween dam projects
The
meeting, presided by former VP Sai Mawk Kham, is fine. Everyone speaks in a
conciliatory tone. Sai Mawk Kham is indeed to be commended for his counsel to
all to adopt a friendly approach.
“It’s confrontational if we use the word ‘object,’” he says when we are
discussing the Shan people’s opposition to the dam projects on the Salween. “It
would be friendlier to say ‘we urge the government.’”
The
result is the meeting adopts his advice, which is in line with the old Shan
saying:
Without
blistering the lotus
Without
muddying the water
Let
us catch the fish
Day Nine. Tuesday, 30 August 2016
Separate
the person from the problem.
The
Global Negotiator
I’m
interviewed by Thai Channel 3 this morning. (The Voice and Thai Rath follow
later in the coming days.)
Then
we all move to the SEA Game Village. The place is nice, with running water and
air-conditioned. “But the food is awful,” one of the delegates warns.
Fortunate
or unfortunate, I don’t have a chance to test it, as friends are providing us
with ample breakfasts from the outside and inviting us for dinner each evening.
And
now tomorrow is the big day we’ve been waiting for. Will it bring hopes to our
people or disappointments? Or both?
Tags: Opinion
