VOCR
31st, March, 2010
Kuala Lumpur
by Simon

It was amazingly and firstly exercised the brand-new seminar of Ethnic Nationalities in Malaysia chaired by Coalition of Burma Ethnics in Malaysia(COBEM) and conducted all presentations by each of representative leaders of ENC (Ethnic Nationality Council, its office based in Changmai) on 21st of March, 2010. It was held in two sections in Myanmar on 21st and on 22nd in English coined “Special Session” for NGOs and UNHCR and other media agency and selected community leaders for it was served in English. Unfortunately, none of any officers from UNHCR presence is found though they were informed well in advance.

The seminar was mainly hosted by leaders of COBEM and ENC. The program started at 9:30 a.m and wrapped up at 6:00 p.m. All the ethnic communities as was invited prior passionately participating in this mutuality-based seminar. Attendees were around 450 and the hall was crowded with each of respective national dress. All were active learners and observers because this is truly a very peculiar experience for all of us as knowledge is much shared in the phase of politics.

Presentations and its explanations based on the raised questions come from leaders of ENC and leader of Brussels-based Euro-Burma office are hitting the essence of the current Burma politics storming which are very long remained unheard and undiscovered by people of majority, esp for the domestic ethnic inhabitants.

Crucially and perfectly, details of the unsuccessful revolution over six decades of Karan and other ethnics' couples of decade's revolution were specifically and systematically made known to all community leaders of those attending in that meeting. David Thaw from Changmai presented "The introduction of ENC an its objectives", Dr. Sakhong Lian Hmung from Sweden presented "2008 constitution, 2010 Election laws and Role of Ethnic Nationalities, Political Scenario of post-election", "The Analysis of the current political situation of Burma" by Harn Yawnghwe from Brussels, "The Role of women in Burma Politics covering the issues of abuse over women by the regime as the systematic use of weapon" by Naw Htoo Phaw from London, " The situation of New Mon State party" by Min Thing Kha from Mon State, " Kachin Stance on Pang Lung agreement" by Marip Seng Bu from Japan and "ENC's policy towards the forthcoming election of Burma and its laws known now as Myanmar" by Dr. Sui Khar from Changmai.

Disappointed but true, many ethnic nationalities didn't comprehend of the systematic cleansing program and the deliberate discrimination over the ethnics by the military-ruled junta for decades until the exiled media agency appears to present all the happenings in the country inside into the outside world. Yet, the tireless effort and study about the military regime politics and the mainland political parties' stance towards the ethnics have been emerged widely and by which such priceless information have people of torture convinced and opened heard through domestically and internationally.

Obviously, the seminar entirely focusing on the building of the unity and transparency among the ethnic communities in Malaysia as needed to grip the forthcoming election as a good chance in order to step up gradually towards the inside movement of Myanmar politics and penetrate through the parliament and till the completed implementation of federal state union which is definitely of the main targetted mission of ENC.

Over decades ago, the genuine history have been remained unheard and the political activity was barred which are known now as the systematic genocide program of the mainland government (that can be said because the military regime stands as the mainland government so far). Until recently, the discrimination over the ethnic nationalities by people of majority in the Burman land is still appeared existing according to the research made by ENC.

ENC is the only priceless source for the Ethnic Nationalities belongs to the same citizenship of Burma in a bid to letting the world know what’s the regime’s policy and they are conducting towards his own citizens. And it is highly revealing the Pang Lung Agreement spirit, of which have been hidden unapproachable to set a talk with the military government, among the ethnic society those are suffering from the one-sided discrimination and condemnation in all kinds of ways by the inhumane military regime despite 100% belonging to the same citizenship in the same country.

At the end of event, ENC is profoundly encouraging all the Ethnic Nationalities community in Malaysia to be united well and confront the challenge together in connection with the upcoming election so that we could march towards the targetted goal (which is stated above) and extend our movement effectively towards the common purpose. Eventually all the ethnic nationalities must, learning from the past mistakes, win it even if it takes so many years more as before.

However, the signal learned from the seminar is how the ethnic people are desperately in need for unity and fight together with undividable one spirit. It’s truly time for long.

(Apology mentioned here that that was late published due to being under the weather)