Naypitaw, May 26 (MExN): The Nagas in Myanmar are also participating in the Myanmar Union Peace Conference, also known as the 21st Century Panglong, which is underway at Myanmar’s new capital, Naypitaw. 1800 leaders/delegates representing the union and regional governments, army, ethnic armed groups, political parties and various ethnicities from all over the country are attending the same.
The Nagas are represented by a team of seven comprising MPs, Chairman of Naga Self Administered Zone, leaders of Naga Public Organization (NPO) and Naga CSO, and prominent Naga tribes’ leader, informed a press release from Hatti Yangli, Chairman, NPO.
“However, as our NPO and Naga CSOs are attending the conference in the capacity of ‘observers’, opportunity to present Nagas’ issues could not be obtained this time. Nevertheless, active efforts are being made to be able to do it in the future Panglong conferences,” the release stated.
The conference (May 24-28), planned to be held every six months or twice a year from 2016-2020, is actively initiated by Myanmar’s democracy icon Aung San Su Kyi, who is the state councilor and also the chairperson of the National Reconciliation Peace Centre, NPO Chairman said.
It aims to bring about comprehensive deliberation on the issues facing the country, and to hammer out a consensus in the direction of a federal Myanmar where aspirations of all groups of people are fulfilled.
From day one, the common focus of all leaders has been towards building a federal union that would usher in lasting peace and prosperity in a country battered by long running armed conflicts, it added. “A lot of intense deliberation and highly charged debates are expected to follow as the sessions drag on.”
