The Shan Youth Conference announced that it will continue to implement its six policies, including the establishment of a federal Shan State.
The inaugural conference, attended by young individuals from over 20 Shan community-based civil organizations, took place from May 13 - 15 at a specific location on the Thailand-Myanmar border, culminating in the agreement on three key opinions and decisions.
The three-day conference aimed to unite youth voices in addressing political and social crises within the Shan community.
Political parties and armed resistance groups, prominent in the Shan socio-political landscape, along with organizations driving social and educational initiatives in the region, were also invited to the conference to share their activities and advancements
The participating Shan youth organizations reached a consensus to maintain coordination and communication in fulfilling their responsibilities across various sectors. To achieve this objective, a working committee comprising representatives from various organizations has been established, and on June 7, the committee unveiled six policies, including the establishment of a federal Shan State.
“When we talk about the federal Shan State, we are talking about a meaningful federal system. How federalism works will depend on the area and traditions. We want to follow a federalism that fits with Shan State and ensures our right to shape our future”, committee’s spokesperson Sai Lao Sai Khay told Shan Herald.
The goals of the Shan Youth Conference include attaining genuine federal democracy, combating dictatorship, rebuilding the federal Shan State, advancing the Shan education system, advocating for human rights, and safeguarding natural resources and public interests.
“Some say that political issues require political solutions. Yet true federal democracy is essential for resolving these crises. Our aim is to create a federal Shan State built on the principle of peaceful coexistence”, Sai Lao Sai Khay added.
“At present, the armed organizations involved in the resistance movement have officially declared their support for a federal system. While many have agreed to this, the specific type of federal system we desire requires further discussion among all involved parties”, Sai Lao Sai Khay emphasized.
Under British colonial rule, it was known as the Federated Shan States, and on October 1, 1922, a federal system was established, dividing administrative powers among Chao Phas (Shan hereditary rulers), dukes, and tax chiefs, with the consent of the Indian regent.
The Committee for Shan State Unity (CSSU) emphasized the significance of reintroducing the federal system in Shan State, marking it as a crucial step towards shaping the future of the region, as outlined in their manifesto "Peaceful Coexistence," issued on February 7, 2022.
