BY Roland Watson ----http://www.dictatorwatch.org/articles/semifreeburma.pdf
By Sao Noan Oo
I agree with Roland Watson's opinion and share his concern about the present situation of the so called New Burma.
Furthermore, when the Prime Minister, David Cameron visited Burma recently, he did not mention anything about the other ethnic nationalities. Burma does not consist only of Burma proper, but seven other ethnic states, which once formed the Union of Burma through the Panglong Agreement.
During his visit to Burma Mr. Cameron should have mentioned the Panglong Agreement, which was a legal document signed by Bogyoke Aungsan and Leaders of other nationalities, and with Britain as a witness. The Panglong Agreement was rejected and abrogated by the military regimes and this lead to the dire political situation in Burma for last fifty years, and the destruction of the Union of Burma. Unless the issue of the Panglong Agreement is addressed and settled there can never be peace in Burma, in spite of all other changes.
Britain signed an agreement with China in1842 when she acquired Hongkong after the Opium War; Britain honoured the agreement and returned Hongkong to China in 1997.
Likewise, the dictatorial regime should honour the Panglong Agreement, and Britain should speak out in favour of honour, legality and truth instead of keeping silent. Britain as a superpower, who once ruled over Burma should also inform the UN, America and Europe about the importance of this legal agreement.
Britain owes it to those who fought with the British against the Japanese in World War II, the Kachins, Chindits and Karens. The Shans, also played their part although not quite so well known example, Flight Lt. Sao Hkun U, who as a Royal Air Force mid-upper gunner, was killed flying on a far-east combat operation in the second World II. Sao Htun Yin,who joined the Frontier Force, fought in the battles of Sittaung Bridge and Nyaunglebin, in Burma where he was wounded and his arm had to be amputated. He was awarded CBE, MBE, DSO, IDSM. Sao Khunseik Mangrai joined the Burma Rifles in 1939, granted the King's Commission in 1940 as 2nd. Lt. and in 1944 worked as General Staff intelligence in New Dehli and Calcutta, and as a Major he was posted in the military mission to Thailand in 1945.
The ethnic nationalities do not want any rewards or preferential favour; they just want Britain to consider and inform the international Governments of their legal rights, and the unfairness of their situation.
Judging from the past, it is doubtful whether the cease-fire agreement will result in anything. The Kachins agreed to a cease-fire for 17 years and now they are being attacked by the dictatorial armed forces again. If President Thein Sein and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi want peace and a real change they must re-adopt the Panglong Agreement.
The contributor is the daughter of the ruling prince of Lawksawk and the author of “My Vanishing World”.
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