The Taunggyi constitutional workshop follows a similar workshop which is currently being held in Loikaw, Kayah State.

“One of the problems is that our people know very little what a constitution is and why it is important to have one,” said Khuensai Jaiyen, one of the organizers. “Only after they have learned this can we discuss with them what to do with the 2008 constitution.”

The Taunggyi constitutional workshop will be followed by a training course which is designed to train leaders from Shan State-based political parties; civil society organizations; and ethnic armies that have concluded ceasefire agreements with Burma’s government.

Taunggyi is known for hosting an inter-state conference in June 1961 which called for the amendment of Burma’s quasi-federal 1947 Constitution in order to create a genuine federal system. However, expectations for developing a “real” federal constitution in Burma were dashed shortly after the conference by Ne Win’s military coup in 1962.