ETHNIC NATIONALITIES COUNCIL

This paper was first published as chapter fifteen in the ‘Between Isolation and Internationalization: The State of Burma’ edited by Johan Lagerkvist, the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, 2008.

On behalf of the people of the Shan State, I would also like to thank Norwegian Church Aid, Norwegian Burma Committee, Worldview Rights, and the Norwegian Government, for taking the initiative to address the issue of Burma. I am also honoured to speak alongside guest speakers here and to present the Shan position.

[1]  Meeting with:

• H.E. Razali Ismail,
  Special Representative of Kofi Anan, UN.Secretary General
• Mr.Danilo Turk,
  Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs

Mr Chairman, PM Dr Sein Win, Mr Gareth Evans, Distinguished Guests and friends. Thank you for this opportunity to clarify some points about of the non-Burman ethnic peoples of Burma. I would like to start by defining some terms and clarifying some misconceptions:

On behalf of the Karenni people, I would like to thank Norwegian Church Aid, Norwegian Burma Committee, Worldview Rights, and the Norwegian Government, for this event.

Mr Prime Minister, distinguished guests and friends. Thank you for this opportunity. I would also like to thank Norwegian Church Aid, Norwegian Burma Committee, Worldview Rights, and the Norwegian Government for making this workshop possible.