Karen parties that failed to secure seats in the 2015 General Election want representation at the Union Peace Conference (also called 21st Century Panglong Conference) like what they say was allowed at the first conference in January of this year—before the new government took office.
The Karen National Party (KNP), Karen Democratic Party, Kayin State Democracy and Development Party, and Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party released a joint statement last week denouncing the government’s decision to only allow 22 parties that won seats to attend the conference that starts this Wednesday in Naypyidaw.
Mann Kyaw Nyein, general secretary for KNP, said: “We are not objecting to the 21st Century Panglong (Conference). We welcome it but (the Burmese government) should consider the inclusion of ethnic parties, which have been established for ethnic affairs, even though they knew they would not win in the election.”
The joint statement was critical that only five representatives from 70 political parties that didn’t net wins in the election have been invited.
Saw Myat Htut Win, central executive committee member of the Kayin State Democracy and Development Party, said: “The previous government has allowed one person from each party to attend the first Union Peace Conference. Now, only the winning parties are allowed to attend (the peace conference). Although five representatives from losing parties are allowed to attend (the peace conference), they are not allowed as representatives of political parties and are considered representatives of social organisations since they are only invited as ‘relevant’ representatives. This seems to be an act of discrimination.”
The joint statement pointed out that according to the nationwide ceasefire agreement; registered political parties are allowed to participate in political dialogue. Therefore, the government’s decision to only allow winning political parties is disregarding the fact that the other parties are also registered.
The parties have requested for the government to allow one representative from each of the 92 political parties. The remaining seats can then be divided among the winning parties.
Of the five Karen parties in Karen state, only the Karen People’s Party won a seat in the 2015 Election allowing it to send six representatives to attend the peace conference.
Reporting by Saw Tun Linn for KIC News
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by BNI staff
