Myanmar’s ethnic states are to right to draft their own constitution said one of one of Myanmar’s ethnic militant groups, the Pa-o National Liberation Army.
Speaking after preliminary working group meetings ahead of the second round of the 21st Century Panglong peace conference to begin on May 24, the negotiator of the PNLA told reporters that the Burmese government “has acknowledged the right to self-determination for the state as we are allowed to draft the state constitution. The states under the union have never had such rights as to draft their own constitutions, but we have earned it today.”
The vice chairman of the Karen National Union (KNU) said,
“I am delighted to say that we, the ethnic minorities, could draft a constitution for our state and region. It is a step forward as in the composition of the federal union and I am thankful.”
Myanmar’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Aung San Suu Kyi, joined the series of preparatory meetings which ended on Friday, reported local news sources.