“The proposal for a federal union has been included on the agenda of the ceasefire negotiations [with ethnic armed groups],” he said during a meeting at the Myanmar Peace Centre in Yangon on 10 November. “The constitution and a federal army would be compatible with a federal union if it is implemented.”

Hla Maung Shwe, a member of the Peace-making Work Committee, warned that further, more careful negotiations over the matter are still needed.

“Sweeping changes for the country or for the government are impossible now,” he said. “Political issues [such as a federal union] must be reserved for political dialogues only.”

Ethnic armed groups gathered for a summit meeting in Laiza, Kachin State, at the end of last month to discuss signing a nationwide ceasefire.They then assembled in Myitkyina to proceed with negotiations with the government. The latter meetings have yet to yield fruitful results.

Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) strategic commander San Aung told Mizzima that the government and ethnic groups will meet again in Hpa-an in December where they will further discuss the formation of a federal army.

President U Thein Sein recently gave his approval for peace talks to continue for as long as necessary providingthat they did not delve into talks of secession or infringement on the sovereignty of the States. Similarly, he noted that he would consider proposed amendments to the constitution but none that called for extreme revisions.