Shan call for national army that includes ethnic soldiers

The clause “security guard forces should be formed in respective states in the country” should be included if the 2008 Constitution is amended, according to Sao Khun Hsaing, a consultant for the Rehabilitation Council of Shan State and Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA).

The suggestion came from a meeting organised by the RCSS/SSA, with political parties and civic groups held at Royal Rose Hall in Yangon last Friday. 

A political professor presented six points about federalism at the Working Group for Ethnic Committee meeting held in Lashio in last March, during which a further point was discussed to form security guard forces in the respective states, the consultant said.  

If the 2008 Constitution was amended, this further point should be added to it, the consultant commented.

These six points were the same as those in most countries that have federal systems, the political professor said.

The points that were the same in most countries with federal systems were having their own constitution, free jurisdictions, state-level elections, national elections, a delegation of central government power to the states, equal distribution of wealth to state governments, Sao Khun Hsaing said.

“The current formation of the army means Bama Tatmadaw, but it is not a union [national] army. The army we want must be a federal army. We will have to discuss about army reform with the government. The armed forces formed in Shan State must be responsible for carrying out security measures for the state, said Lieutenant Colonel Sai Maing, the committee member of peace implementation from the RCSS/SSA.

Shan military leader Yawd Serk led a delegation to Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon this month for peace talks. 

He met National League for Democracy chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi at her lakeside home in Yangon on Saturday and discussed peace, a federal political structure, and drug issues.

During the 30-minute meeting, Suu Kyi told the Shan armed ethnic leader to always keep in touch with the NLD party about issues in the RCSS/SSA area. She also wants to present issues and requirements for this area to Parliament, according to Colonel Sai Hla, a spokesperson of the RCSS/SSA.

“The presentation of the NLD central committee about the drug issue and our presentation is nearly the same, so she spoke of cooperating with us. We also discussed about the need to establish a federal state to have peace in our country. She said she’d do her best to set up a federal [system]. At the same time, she said she’d cooperate with all the ethnic races,” Colonel Sai Hla said.

The Nobel laureate also talked about the need for equality and unity in establishing peace, he said.

Lieutenant General Ywet Sit visited Nay Pyi Taw last Tuesday at the invitation of President Thein Sein. He met with the President and discussed a ceasefire, holding political discussions, setting up territory for regional development tasks, and to cooperate on anti-narcotic tasks.

Lieutenant General Ywet Sit arrived in Yangon on June 12 and met with Shan National League for Democracy chairman Khun Htun Oo. He also had dinner with Shan armed group leaders and Shan party leaders.