CNI News
30 Sept 2022
Uncertainties have loomed over the junta’s guarantee that it agreed in principle to create Wa State, Rakhine Politician U Pe Than told the CNI.
He said that allowing the Wa to create their own state would ignite disunity among ethnic groups in the area, prompting them to follow suit.
He told the CNI, “Under the 2008 constitution, it is just a promise of the junta. Even then, the junta said it agreed to create Wa State only in principle. It just means that 25 percent of the legislature have agreed to create Wa State in principle. When the matter is submitted to the legislature, voting will be conducted through the secret voting system and the junta will say it has nothing to do with the vote of the parliament. If the motion is rejected, it will say it has agreed to create Wa State but other parties reject it. So, the junta can even sow the seed of discord behind the scene and its guarantee is uncertain. It disclosed its position in principle and just the guarantee will not lead to creation of Wa State.”
He added that offering statehood to the Wa may have side effects.
U Pe Than said, “If the territories of other states are given to the Wa, there will be side effects and sow the seed of discord among local ethnic groups, who will also demand their own states and self-administered zones. So, it is a politically very sensitive issue. So, I think the Tatmadaw gave the promise as a short-term solution at the moment and there is no guarantee for it.”
Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing meets leaders of the UWSA, the NDAA and the SSPP on 26th September, 2022.
The Tatmadaw agreed in principle to establish Wa State, which has the same status as other existing states, as demanded by the United Wa State Army during the talks between them.
It is unlikely that the junta will allow the Wa to create their own state, Myanmar Affair Observer Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw told the CNI.
She said, “The junta leader has already told that EAOs can continue to retain their weapons only as border guards after the talks under his command. Think about how EAOs like the UWSA and the Mongla group accept this.”
It is stipulated in the 2008 constitution that territories of states and regions in the country can be redistributed if and as necessary with the approval of more than 75 percent of the legislature.
The NSPNC holds peace talks with leaders of the UWSA, the NDAA and the SSPP from 27th to 29th September, 2022.
U Pe Than said, “Parliamentarians who represent the Wa or their allies are required to submit their proposals. The status the Wa has already secured is much higher because the existing states do not have any rights the relevant ethnic groups desire. We, who have our own ethnic states, were greatly surprised when we heard that the Wa demanded statehood. I can’t understand why the Wa, who have complete control over all their own affairs including security and defence, demanded statehood which is in essence nothing but a colony. There will be challenges in the future because they won’t have the status they desire.”
Currently, the USWA has its headquarters in its capital Pangkham known before 1999 as Pangsang by establishing departments including justice, education, administrative, revenue, security departments.
Under the 2008 constitution, the Wa Self-administered Region is made up of two districts, which comprise Hopan, Mongmao, Panwaing, Namphan, Matman and Pangkham (Pangsang) townships.
