The government and ethnic armed groups signed a total of 33 agreements at the conclusion of the 2nd round of the 21st century Panglong conference that is expected to move forward the peace talks aimed at ending decades-old pocket wars in the country.

Lt General Yar Pyae, vice chair of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC), a tripartite body of government, political parties and ethnic armed groups that is authorized to hold political dialogues described the six-day peace talks as very productive.

“We are very pleased because we have never had results in previous talks. We have agreed on 37 points, which is a progress. It would need step-by-step and gradual development. Tatmadaw has already had the desire to achieve eternal peace, and negotiations should continue,” said he.

State’s Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi urged the participants to take more steps in the future talks.

“None of us here today was responsible for the initiation of this conflict. But as we strive to bring this conflict to an end, we should remember that we are working for the benefit of all our people who have suffered greatly, and who wish to live in peace and security,” she said at the closing ceremony of the conference.

The State’s Counsellor also said that differences in perspectives of the parties to the peace dialogues exposed during the conference are lessons learned for the stakeholders in the peace process, but admitted that finding common ground would not be an easy job.

She also said that the experiences gained during the conference would support in removing concerns and doubts, while building trust among parties to the peace talks.

“Nation-building is an unending process. As we complete one stage, we have to start on the next one. At this second meeting of the Union Peace Conference- 21st Century Panglong, we have taken another stride along the path of our quest for peace. The conclusion of this meeting marks out the beginning of our next step towards a peaceful democratic federal Union,” said Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

In political sectors, parties to the peace talks agreed on 12 points but left eight other points for discussion at the next conference that would be held at the end of next six months.

Among the eight that have been reserved for the next round of talks are the issues of “secession” and “self-determination,” which have dominated the recently concluded conference.

The agreed points in the political sectors include “sovereignty and exercising sovereign power, which is composed of three pillars – legislative, executive and judiciary”.

On the issue of equality, the agreement said that it would guarantee the equal political and social status of all ethnic nationalities, and the protection, preservation and promotion of ethnic languages, literatures, traditional and cultural heritages.

For the composition and power sharing between the union and federal units, seven points were agreed. One point is the sharing of three branches of legislative, executive and judiciary power by the union to the states, regions and self-administrative units, which shall need the union constitution’s legitimizing in the case of sharing legislative power between the Union and its units.

The agreements also include setting up an independent constitutional tribunal to resolve disputes concerning the constitution between the Union and its units.

On the economy sector, the agreed points include sharing equitable amount of collected tax and financial resources between the Union and its units, economic decision-making power which would require the legitimizing of the Union’s constitution.

The policy agreements for economy also include guaranteeing equal opportunities for economic development among the Union and its units.

Decentralization, transparency, rights and international norms-based practice for drafting land policy, in consultation with those at the grass-root level, guaranteeing owners’ property rights, fair management of farmland, preservation and protection of land that are of high social, cultural, historical and ethnical values.

Protection of civilians affected by internal armed conflicts, finding durable solution for the internally displaced persons due to man-made and natural disasters in line with international norms, protection of vulnerable groups of society including elders, disabled, women and children, and eradication of narcotic drugs by deeming the task as national, political, rule of law and security objective.

Daw Naw May Oo, a representative who was invited to the conference as ‘appropriate individual’ was cautious on the sustainability of the agreements signed by the leaders of armed ethnic groups, government, parliament, Tatmadaw and political parties.

“These agreements, as results of dialogue, would need guarantee for its sustainability for our country,” she said.

It was the Chin National Front and Shan Nationalities League for Democracy which requested that the usage of the term “non-secession”,be left for discussion at the next conference.

CNF’s vice chair Salai Lian Hmung said using the phrase like “you must now secede from the union” could create misunderstanding as some armed ethnic groups have yet to hold national level political dialogues or have not signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, but insisted that they would not seek ‘secession’ from the union.