Burma Tha Din has learned that a small group of State
Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s key advisers held a crisis meeting today at the
Presidents palace following the failure of the Panglong III conference to make
any significant progress.
There is concern that international support for the current
peace process is waning due to lack of progress, and that pressure may be
applied to make changes which would lead to substantive discussions on ethnic
rights and autonomy. Burma Tha Din understands Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is keen to
avoid such a development.
One proposal put forward was to drop the word peace from the
peace process, so that people don’t judge the process on progress towards
peace. Instead the term ‘The Process’ would be used.
Another is to change the Panglong conference name to the 22nd
Century Panglong. This was considered to be more realistic in terms on
progress, and ‘forward looking and positive’.
The establishment of more government peace committees and sub groups,
each chaired by the State Counsellor, is also under consideration.
Burma Tha Din understands that any suggestion that there are
inherent problems with The Process and that any policy changes should be made
were unanimously rejected.
It was also decided to continue with the policy of not
blaming the military for problems such as ongoing conflict, refusing to
negotiate on preconditions unacceptable to ethnic organisations, and
vetoing discussions on key issues. Instead the policy of blaming small under-resourced
ethnic groups for delays and being unrealistic in demands would continue.
All those present agreed that these cosmetic changes would
be more than enough to keep the EU and European governments on board, and that
the USA doesn’t really care either way so would continue support as well.
