Recently freed Burma’s pro-democracy icon, Daw Aung San Su Kyi said, when meeting ethnic representatives from the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) that the release of imprisoned ethnic leaders is one of her main concerns as well, according to meeting participants.

“She said she would work for the release of political prisoners including the ethnic leaders,” said Sai Tin Hlaing, spokesperson of the defunct Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), Burma’s second largest winning party and the winning party in Shan State in the 1990 elections, which was dissolved by the ruling military junta for failing to apply for the recently held elections.

SNLD is one of the member parties of the UNA which is a coalition of 1990 election winning ethnic parties.

On 16 November, members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and different representatives from UNA met at NLD’s Shwe Gone Dine office for about one and-a-half hours from 13:00 to 14:30 (local time).

The participants were Pu Cin Xian Thang, Chairman of Zomi National Congress (ZNC), U Htaung Ko Htan, U Aye Tha Aung, leading member of Arakan League for Democracy (ALD), Nai Ngwe Thein, Mon National League for Democracy (MNLD), Saw Harry – Kayin (Karen) and Sai Shwe Kyu and Sai Tin Hlaing from SNLD.

On the NLD side were U Win Tin, U Tin Oo, U Than Tun and U Hla Pe, besides Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

“The main issue being discussed was about the October 24 Kalay statement which called for a second Panglong Conference, to be in line with the 21st century state of affairs,” said Sai Tin Hlaing.

“She also mentioned about conducting a workshop on the Panglong spirit because most of the people are not aware of it.”

Other news agencies have added that the 21st century Panglong II Conference means all should take advantage of the Internet in order to exchange ideas about how best to form a new union.