The Nationalities Brotherhood Federation (NBF), an alliance of 20 registered ethnic political parties in Burma, slammed the ethnic group classification system that will be used for the nationwide census, scheduled from March 30 to April 10, according to a recent statement.
NBF issued the critical statement during a two-day conference in Naypyidaw in early February attended by over 40 participants including ethnic members of Parliament and representatives from the newly formed Kachin Democratic Party (KDP). KDP leader Gumgrawng Awng Hkam was in attendance, an observer told the Kachin News Group.
The government needs to review its controversial census because of the classification system divides Burma major ethnic groups into smaller subgroups, and this could lead to a disintegration of unity among the ethnic groups, the statement warned.
The NBF also demanded the government to allow teaching of ethnic literature and languages in government schools during regular school hours.
After Burma received independence from the British in 1948, the U Nu government allowed teaching ethnic literature in government schools. However teaching ethnic literature has been banned in government schools since General Ne Win took over the country in military coup in1962 until recently. But now it’s only allowed after regular hours.
In order for a genuine federal union to ensure national equality across the country, the government must reform the pro-military 2008 Constitution, the ethnic political alliance said. They called for the Union Election Commission to include ethnic nationalities as well as for the chief ministers of Burma's states and regions to be selected by the state level parliament not the central government.
Last spring, members of the NBF agreed to form a Federated Union Party following a conference in Taunggyi in Shan state.
Gumgrawng Awng Hkam said the NBF hopes to be formable force in the 2015 elections.
The NBF now has 15 member parties, the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, the Tailai (Red Shan) Nationalities Development Party, the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party, the Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party, All Mon Region Democracy Party, the Chin National Party, the Kayan National Party, the Inn National Development Party, the Danu Nationalities Democracy Party, the Pa-O National Organization, the Ta’ang (Palong) National Party, the Asho Chin National Party, the Wa Democratic Party, the Wa National Unity Party, and the Ethnic National Development Party.
