Xiao Samkun, deputy officer of external affairs for the United Wa State Party / United Wa State Army (UWSP/UWSA) demanded that they should get their own autonomous Wa State during the recent Shan-Kayah Trust-building for Peace conference in Shan state.
The conference that was held in Lashio on March 21 brought various ethnic groups and government representative together to discuss the current peace process in Myanmar.
Although the UWSP/UWSA position was not officially discussed amongst the other participants at the conference during the coffee break some of the attendees discussed the issue. Shan Herald News Editor-in-Chief Khuensai Jaiyen said that the ethnic groups need to find common ground.
“The Wa are asking for an autonomous state, that is their right. There are people who will rise up against the Wa’s demand and we can’t stop them either. We should discuss finding ways out without separation. How can we live together with the same common interest and designation?”
The conference was attended by 180 people from 21 different groups. These included ethnic armed group leaders, Union-level government representatives and foreign diplomats from the UK, U.S.A, Indonesia and Brunei.
Photo courtesy: Kawli Media
