U Kyaw Lin Oo, the organiser of the seminar and executive director of the Myanmar People’s Forum working group, explained that after the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) is signed the topic of federal affairs will be popular among the government, ethnic armed groups, political parties and civil society groups, so they are holding this kind of seminar to familiarize these groups with the concept of federalism.

He said: “It seems that there might be much talk about federal affairs [in the future in Burma] so when they talk about it people should be familiar with it [the concept of federalism]. We are also holding this kind of seminar in other states.”

Seminars with titles like: ‘current peace and future prospects’, ‘rights of the state in development and financial management’, principles of federal affairs and ‘Kayah State level federal affairs’ were held at the two day seminar.

Ma Rosy Kyaw, who is in charge of the Women’s Safe House group said that although government officials who handle state affairs were invited to the seminar only medium level officials could attend the seminar. She believes the government should show more respect for federal affairs.

She said: “In reality when they [government representatives] are asked questions they cannot answer some of the questions, so they [the government] do not cooperate. It seems like they do not like the federal system and instead that they just want to hold onto the centralised system.”

U Than Htay the union minster said in his opening speech at the seminar that although the federal system is very important when the country is built on a union system in reality the government will be weak putting federalism into practice.

This was the first time a federal seminar had been held in Kayah State. About 70 representatives from the government sector and CSOs attended the conference.

Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI