Panglong Day Message (r)

[Philip.Mccracken@xxxxxxxxxxx]

   Has anyone made a point to tell this fact that the Burman military 
(so-called) government has violated a literally international treaty. 
 International since it was between cultures/races (between what could have 
been different states/countries).   You may be able to sue them in an 
international court.

  Try it.     It  may   just   work.



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To: altsean@xxxxxxxxxx; burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx; strider@xxxxxxxxxxx; 
justfree@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; lokanat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; N Cunningham; 
RANGOONP@xxxxxxx; Sao Hpa Han; surharn@xxxxxxx; freeburma@xxxxxxxxx; 
Mccracken, Philip <FTA>
Subject: Panglong Day Message
Date: Thursday, February 12, 1998 9:17PM


PANGLONG  DAY  MESSAGE

PANGLONG  IS  NOT  FOR  SHANS  ALONE

On this day, 51 years ago, the truly historic treaty was signed by leaders
of the Burmese, Chins, Kachins and Shans to form a union. The terms of the
treaty were: Political autonomy, Economic autonomy, Democracy and Human
Rights. The constitution which was drawn later and regarded as an integral
part of the Panglong treaty was the right of secession which was recognized
by none other than Aung San himself, the greatest of all Burmese.

Although for various reasons, other non-Burmans i.e. the Karens, Karennis,
Arakanese and Mons were not included, the significant fact is that these
are the terms which all of them have always wanted in a union with any
other nationality. Another fact is that the very document became the ticket
to Independence. For those who keep demanding the non-Burmans that the call
for right of self determination be shelved while the paramount struggle for
the Second Independence i.e. democracy is raking place, this fact is a
reminder that without prior recognition of the non-Burmans' rights, the
quest for democracy may be doomed right from the start.

Panglong had been the gateway to Independence. Let us hope that the
recognition of Panglong by all, including the SLORC/SPDC, be the gateway to
Peace, Democracy and a Re-union.

S.H.A.N.