PNLO calls for holding nation-wide ethnic conference outside of parliament

PNLO calls for holding nation-wide ethnic conference outside of parliament

Published on Monday, 12 August 2013 20:51

The Pa-O National Liberation Organisation (PNLO), an ethnic armed group from Shan State, has called for national-level political negotiations between the government and ethnic armed groups to be held outside of parliament.
PNLO's chairman Khun Myint Tun was in Yangon to discuss ethnic and internal affairs at the silver jubilee of 1988 Uprising that held on August 7.
"Only when the conference is held outside of parliament, can matters be settled politically. For example, if we amend the 2008 Constitution, the army will not accept it because it is responsible to protect it. Therefore, this case can't be settled within the framework of the current law," said the chairman.
The PNLO's chairman also said that any national-level conference needs to be held in collaboration with responsible persons from government and he encouraged members of parliament to participate in the conference even if it is held outside of Myanmar's Union Assembly.
The PNLO is a member of United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), an umbrella group representing 11 ethnic armed groups who are currently in negotiations with the government to establish a nation-wide peace process.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/08/13/pnlo-calls-for-holding-nation-wide-ethnic-conference-outside-of-parliament/