ETHNIC CONFLICT TARGETED AT BURMA DONOR FORUM

(Kao Wao: January 17, 2004)

Oslo - Donors, support groups, and democratic leaders met here for a Burma
Donor Forum on January 15-17.

The Danish Burma Committee, Norwegian Burma Committee and Olof Palme
Foundation at the Nobel Institute in Oslo, Norway jointly organized "The Ethnic Dimension of the Conflict in Burma".

Scholars and activists reiterated that independent states of nationalities had flourished for several centuries in Burma, the region was continuously evolving into a unique amalgam of different states, and each group had a vibrant history and culture when it fell into the hands of the British. The Union of Burma was formed in 1947 by virtue of the Panglong Agreement made up of the Burman, Shan, Chin, Kachin and Karenni leaders.

The ethnic nationalities in Burma are not minorities but equal partners in the union and the Mon and the Arakanese are the earliest inhabitants in the region as represented by their rich histories said Dr. Aye Kyaw, an Arakanese scholar based in New York said at the panel discussion.

Dr. Lian Sakhong of the UNLD argued that the crisis in Burma today is based on the Constitutional Crisis and the Shan, Chin, Kachin and Karenni nationalities lived in the unoccupied territories as independent land for centuries.

Cham Toik of the Mon Unity League spoke to the audience that the Mon fought
against the colonial rule with other nationalities and inevitably took up arms against the central government after the appeals for basic rights were denied; Mon leaders were arrested and assassinated at that time.

General Secretary of the Shan Democratic Union Sai Wansai calls (written comment) for diverse action as the upcoming military-sponsored National
Convention draws near. He outlined three main strategic options or tasks: to lobby for regime change; to attend the forthcoming National Convention; and to lobby for "power mediation".

Panelists were comprised of Dr Aye Kyaw (Arakanese) of New York University;
Dr Laraw Maran of Kachin-Americans and friends; Dr. Lian Sakhong (Chin), Naw
May Oo (Karen) and Cham Toik of the Mon Unity League.

"I am really impressed that the (ethnic) issue is raised here; in the past, the (European) people only know Burma as a democracy crisis and Aung San Suu Kyi", said Kyaw Kyaw an observer at the meeting.

The NCGUB delegates led by Prime Minister Dr. Sein Win briefed the seminar; and Dr. Chao Tzang Yawnghwe and Mandy Sadan also provided presentation of the historical, social, and political dimension of Burma's diverse ethnic peoples.