Opposition commits to federalist Constitution

Nan Khin Htwe Myint, a member of the NLD’s chief executive committee, read the statement during the Trust-Building for Peace seminar held in war-torn Shan State on Sunday.

“There need to be favourable conditions to establish a genuine Union, which the ethnic groups long for. Only if provisions are guaranteed to establish a genuine Union will the ethnic groups unconditionally trust the government. At present, the issue of whether to amend the current Constitution or draw up a new Constitution is under discussion. To enact federalism in the Constitution is important to trust-building for peace,” the statement said.

The statement called for additional peace talks and the enactment of a federal principle in the Constitution, which ethnic groups have requested.

If the 2008 Constitution is not amended, sustainable peace cannot be restored, the statement said. The NLD is gathering opinions from the ethnic parties to amend the Constitution, and the findings will be shared with the public.

The Constitutional Amendment Committee, founded by the NLD, holds weekly discussions with ethnic party representatives. NLD chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi is leading the party’s talks with the ethnic groups.