An interview with U Sai Kyaw Nyunt, Secretary-1 of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) about a talk with the NLD.

The NLD delegation led by Magway Region Chief Minister Dr. Aung Moe Nyo held a talk with the SNLD at the Shan State NLD office in Taunggyi of Shan State on January 15th.

Here is an analysis of the SNLD assessment of the NLD talks based on  an interview with U Sai Kyaw Nyunt, Secretary-1 of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD).

Q: What is the result of this meeting?

A: Today’s meeting is said to be third meeting. On 7th January, the high-ranking official from the headquarters met the SNLD headquarters. Yesterday, Dr. Aung Moe Nyo held an informal talk with the vice-chair.

Q: Which points were discussed at the meeting?

A: The main point is national unity. As all we know, the NLD’s meetings with ethnic parties in Mon and Kayah States did not go ahead.

The SNLD has long been working with the NLD since 30 years. We were unable to make cooperation with the NLD after the 2015 election.  I hope we can make cooperation in national unity and peace this time... The SNLD explained its policy in brief — how to build the union, core value, national equality, democracy, human rights, diversities, collective leadership and the protection of minorities.

Q: What did the SNLD ask the NLD politically?

A: We talked about our policy and how the union is built, how we make cooperation in building up the union and legislative and administrative sectors and other sectors.

Q: Did the SNLD discuss the assignment of duties to ethnic parties at the Union-level body?

A: We cannot make cooperation generally. Cooperation will be full-fledged when there is the allocation of some specific assignments and responsible posts.

Q: What is the next step of the SNLD if the results of the meetings are not good as expected?

A: The SNLD is an organization which is working to strengthen the democratic practices and norms. We will join hands with any organizations which are working for democracy and the federal union... Since the establishment of the SNLD after 1988, the CRPP was formed. The SNLD’s chair and the NLD’s chair said that democracy and the federal is like the head and tail of a coil. We must implement the federal and the democracy at the same time. We still stick to that principle.

Q: To what extent, does the SNLD believe in the National Unity Government to be implemented by the NLD?

A: At present, we are the organizations which have worked for many years. In the past five years, we had a long distance for a while. The objectives of both parties will have no much difference.