Burma govt still refuses KIO request for Panglong related dialogue

KIO CHAIRMAN LANYAW ZAWNG HRA (LEFT) AND BURMESE PRESIDENT THEN SEIN

Last week's round of talks between Burma's government and the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) failed to achieve much of an agreement on anything, according to KIO sources.

The talks which took place at the Chinese border town of Ruili (Shweli) on October 30 also ended earlier than expected, reportedly because no senior leaders from the KIO including Brig Gen Gun Maw attended.

During the talks Naypyidaw's chief negotiator, former railway minister Aung Min, reiterated the Thein Sein government's desire that further political talks take place in parliament under the framework of the 2008 military backed constitution.

Since the fighting began in June 2011 the KIO has repeatedly stated that it wants to negotiate with the government using the Panglong Agreement as a reference, something that the government has so far rejected.

Signed by General Aung San and representatives from the Kachin, Shan and Chin communities in February 1947, the Panglong agreement promised these groups a fair amount of autonomy over their own affairs in exchange for their support for Burma’s independence.

Aung San’s death just months later brought an end to the dream of Panglong, his successor U Nu never fully implemented the agreement in particular the promise of local autonomy.  In 1953 U Nu did pay superficial homage to the Panglong agreement by making the annual anniversary a national holiday.

Since Burma's military unilaterally ended a 17-year-ceasefire with the KIO last year more than 100,000 civilians have been displaced by the fighting

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