New Delhi - Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said that she wanted to hold the second Panglong Conference with ethnic minorities groups and pro-democracy groups by using modern communication technology, according to the ethnic leaders.  

Fiver leaders of National League for Democracy (NLD) and seven leaders from ethnic groups met yesterday at NLD headquarters and they agreed to convene the second Panglong Conference. In the meeting, Aung San Suu Kyi said that she wanted to convene the conference via modern technology to avoid applying for permit from the authorities.

“To hold a conference, we need to obtain permit from the junta. That’s why she tried to seek alternative to overcome distant barriers and avoid applying for permit”, Chin Sian Thang, who is the chairman of Zomi National Congress (ZNC)”, told Mizzima.

The Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) chairman Thar Ban said that “Without the approval of the junta, we cannot convene a traditional conference. I think the video conference is very similar with live television broadcast made by the news agencies. People from different countries can participate in the meeting”.

Yesterday, Aung San Suu Kyi met with Tin Oo, Win Tin, Than Tun and Hla Pe from NLD, ZNC chairman Chin Sian Thang, United Nationalities League for Democracy (UNLD) chairman Thawng Kho Thang, All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMRDP) chairman Naing Ngwe Thein accompanied by Naing Tun Thein, Shan Nationalities League for Democracy chairman Sai Shwe Kyuu accompanied by Sai Tin Hlaing, and Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) chairman Thar Ban at the NLD headquarters at around 1 p.m. The meeting lasted about 30 minutes.

The ZNC held its 22nd founding day ceremony on October 24 in Kalaymyo, Sagaing Division and issued ‘Kalay Declaration’ calling for the convening of a second Panglong Conference for restoration of national reconciliation and establishing an inclusive federal union.

More than 50 people including NLD vice chairman Tin Oo and Central Executive Committee member Win Tin, Committee Representing the People’s Parliament secretary Aye Tha Aung, Mon leaders Naing Ngwe Thein and Naing Tun Thein, prominent politician Thakhin Thein Maung, Ohn Maung and Nyunt Thein, and student leaders signed the declaration. And some political parties, which contested in the recent election, supported the Kalay Declaration.

When the Kalay Declaration was issued, Aung San Suu Kyi was detained under house arrest. That’s why the ethnic leaders met with her to discuss about the Kalay Declaration.

“Our first priority is to demand equality and self-determination. We need to conduct continuous multilateral negotiations. In fact, we want to meet face-to-face. But, if it is impossible, we will seek an alternative to convene the second Panglong Conference. Currently, we are trying to lay down basic principles”, Thar Ban said.

The Panglong Agreement was a deal reached between the Burmese leaders led by Aung San, who is the father of Aung San Suu Kyi, and the Shan, Kachin and Chin peoples on February 12, 1947, which accepted the federal system.

But, since 1948, the ethnic minorities have lost their rights and self-determination in their areas, so the civil war raged for more than 60 years.