ETHNIC NATIONALITIES COUNCIL

In a nation where ethnic minorities constitute 40 per cent of the population and occupy 60 per cent of the land, democracy can only be a starting point, says a delegation of Myanmar's Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) that visited India recently at the invitation of Indian Parliamentarian Forum for Democracy in Burma (IPFDB). The ENC represents the seven ethnic States of the Union of Burma, Arakan, Chin, Kachin, Karen, Karenni, Mon and Shan, and its members include all groups within each state. Following are excerpts from the ENC delegates’ interaction session with the media in New Delhi

Duwa Mahkaw Hkun Hsa finished B.A (Law) and LL.B degrees from Rangon University in 1977 and 1978 respectively. After practicing laws from 1980 to 1983, he was arrested as an advocate until September 1991. He was actively involved in the country's 8888 uprising. He served as General Secretary of Kachin State National Congress for Democracy (KNCD) which was formed by a group of representatives from all the ethnic groups living in the Kachin State. KNCD, which he co-founded in 1988, was banned shortly after his arrest. Winning three seats in parliament during Burma’s 1990 general election, the party has been the one and only State level political party with the national spirit, standing for the Kachin state and citizens.

While the Western democracies are being kept in suspense on the transition of a new Cabinet Team to the White House in US, the Eastern are engaging in the killing fields amid global economic crisis. If Thailand can cut off the scenes of the strike at the Thai Government House, it would look a lot better. Sao Harn Yawnghwe is one of the heirs of Sao Shwe Thaik Yawnghwe, the first President of the Union of Burma and the First Lady or the Mahadevi Sao Nang Hern Kham, the founder of the SSA (Shan State Army).

Sao Seng Suk is the Chairman of the Shan State Constitution Drafting Committee. Following is a literal transcript of the interview he had with U Aung Htoo and B. K. Sen.
"Do you consider the constitution to be the core issue in a peaceful political settlement in Burma?"
Sao Seng Suk: "Yes, I certainly do. Because all problems arose since Pyidaungzu was established in 1947 from the then constitution. If all accept democratic constitution, historical problems can be settled peacefully and the country rebuilt according to constitution, as there will be many kinds of freedom, freedom of expression, freedom of activities, etc."