To Hopeland and Back: The 20th trip
The latest visit was the result of the invitation from the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) and Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army (KNU/KNLA) who were scheduled to hold talks with several stakeholders.
As usual, what I was able to give was much less than what I got — information for readers to utilize in the struggle for peace.
Many of the meetings I attended however were off-the-record ones. Names of many of the venues and participants understandably will be kept undisclosed. I therefore hope while the readers will gain from the contents in my report, those who were present at these gatherings are in no way compromised.
Day One. Monday, 23 May 2016
Names can name no lasting name.
Tao Te Ching (The Book of The Way and its Derivative), Chapter One
Our plane is late today. It used to land in Mingladon at noon, more or less sharp. But by the time I reach a taxi outside the terminal, it is already near 13:00. So instead of directing him to the hotel, I name the place where the meeting is going to take place.
It is already in full swing when I get there. The presenter is giving us a power point presentation of official documents published during the immediate post-Independence days as evidence that “Rohingya” is not a new word, but one which must be at least as old as the country’s Independence. Among them are old encyclopedias in Burmese and a public announcement that the government broadcasting service’s ethnic language program which included Rohingya.
Among his audience, unnoticed by me until then, is an Arakanese scholar, who quietly sits and listens to him. His comments, I think, are worth considering:
- The Rohingya issue is a political one, not an ethnic or religious one. The Rohingyas must decide which priority comes first: Recognition (as Rohingya) or citizenship
- I would advise the second. If you, on the contrary, choose the first, I’m afraid the situation will only worsen
- Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, center, talks to the media on Friday, 13 May 2016. (Photo: Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy)
The following are comments by other attendees:
- Daw (Aung San) Suu (Kyi) has said she has other issues which demand her undivided attention first
- The Rohingya issue is one of the political minefields that the previous military dominated governments had created for us
- Former president U Thein Sin wanted to shift the responsibility to the UN. I, for one, think we should shift it to God, Allah and the Buddha (which triggers laughs.) Because I don’t think this is a matter that us human beings can handle anymore
We then have a separate meeting to exchange notes on current situation. During the 2-hour long exchange, the lights go on and off, prompting one to quip: “Before the new government came, we used to complain that the lights were frequently out. But these days, we say it differently, that the lights are frequently on.”
The following are what I have noted from their discussions:
- Have you noticed that the military never addresses Daw Suu by her new position as State Counselor? And have you also noticed that if you call her State Counselor, military officers react like earthworms coming into contact with salt?
The parliamentary vote appointing her State Counselor may be legal and democratic. The constitution also doesn’t have anything to say about such clever maneuvers. Only she had found an imaginative way to circumvent the charter altogether. And they may not like being outsmarted like that.
- 27 May Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) meeting in Naypyitaw
- 28 May 21st Century Panglong Conference (21 CPC) Preparatory Meeting also in Naypyitaw
- The agenda will include invitation of non-signatories to participate in the revision of the Framework for Political Dialogue (FPD)
- While the Union Peace Conference #1 (UPC1) started with 5 main dialogue topics: Political, security, economy, social and land and natural resources management, the word is that she may want to retain only two: Political and Security for her 21st Century Panglong and leave the rest to a CSO Forum. The Forum however will not be mandated to pass decisions, only recommendations
- Another report is that she is against inclusion of parties that are not elected. This may go against the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).
(Article 22 (a): “Representatives from the government, Hluttaw and the Tamadaw, representatives from Ethnic Armed Organizations, representatives from registered political parties, ethnic representatives and other relevant representatives shall participate in political dialogue that is based on an all inclusive principle.)
- As a result, the military representatives held an informal meeting with the EAO representatives to say they expect the EAOs to firmly adhere to the NCA
“The NCA is the only legal bond between the military and the EAOs,” U Aung Min, the former chief negotiator, told one EAO leader. “We need to hold on to it for dear life.”
After checking in at the hotel, I get a phone call from a young friend from Taunggyi. “Happy Birthday!” she says. “Do you know we share the same birthday?”
“Now, how would I know,” I reply. “Since you don’t look old like me.”
“No, I’m not. I was born in 1993.”
We then exchange happy birthday to each other.
I’m 68 today.
Tags: Opinion
