Seminar on National Reconciliation, Peace Process, Democracy and Federalism in Shan State

Khun Htun Oo, Chairman of CSSU, delivering the opening remarks at the seminar

HSF

In Myanmar’s history Shan State has been constantly affected by armed conflicts between several Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) and the Myanmar Military. Even though a Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) was been signed in 2015, continued fighting puts the lives of vulnerable communities in Shan state at risk and undermines Myanmar’s peace process. Against this background a seminar on National Reconciliation, Peace Process, Democracy and Federalism among the political parties and civil society organizations from Shan State was held on the 1st and 2nd June 2016 in Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State. The event was the outcome of a cooperation between the Hanns Seidel Foundation, the Committee for Shan State Unity (CSSU) and the Hsaipen Institute.

Group photo with participants

HSF

The two-day event aimed to encourage a discussion between different stakeholders, involved in the peace process in Shan State, and to strengthen their knowledge on federal concepts and possible reforms. On the first day the local resource persons Dr Sai Oo and Sai Kyaw Nyunt presented on different topics concerning federal concepts and implications for a potential federal reform process in Myanmar with a particular focus on Shan State.

During the following discussion on federal reforms the different stakeholders presented concept papers on priority issues.