Union Day 1999

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Union Day 1999

12th February is a red-letter day in the history of Burma. It is
observed as National solidarity day, a declare public holiday. This day
is the outcome of the Pinglong conference held in February 1947 at a
remote place Pinglong in Shan States. It was here that Burma's national
and ethnic leaders signed the Document in the presence of British
Government laying down the basic principle of the constitution of
sovereign Burma. It is given extreme significance because it laid the
foundation of unity, integrity and fraternity of all people living in
Burma, ended the country old colonial rule and gave the foundation to
build a prosperous and happy country.
The British made Burma a colony since 1886. Their scheme of
pacification failed. The country on the contrary witnessed great
upheavals. Students strikes of 1920, 1936, 1938, 1940, the Saya San
uprising of 1930, the great strike of Yenanchaung oil field workers. The
militant national freedom under Do Bama Asiyon (Thakin) the outbreak of
world War II and the initial victories of fascist powers, Germany, Italy
and Japan caused serious set backs to the freedom struggle. The British
retreated. The Japanese occupied Burma and ruled. Under the leadership
of Bogyoke Aung San the Japanese occupation was steadily undermined.
With the turn of tide in the War Bogyoke Aung San headed the patriotic
forces and fought the Japanese. The British reoccupied Burma and
re-imposed their colonial rule. U Aung San organized the Anti-Fascist
and People Freedom League and in 1945-46 the largest political upheaval
that Burma ever had seen emerged for the ouster of British rule. The
snag in this movement was that few ethnic leaders were drawn in to them,
and there could not be a united pressure on a common program. The
British took advantage of this divergence. As in India the British
successfully divided the Hindus and Muslims. In Burma they tried to
divide the majority Burmese and minorities ethnic peoples. In India a
part of Indian Territory was allowed to secede and constitute in to
Pakistan. The dire consequence has been that the two nations are
fighting each other for last 50 years. In similar manner the colonist
wanted the ethnic people separate from Burma proper and from their own
nature state comprising of Shan, Karan, Mons, Kachins, Chins and others.
The result will be that two nations will be locked in war against each

other as India and Pakistan. It is in this grim context transfer of
power, that the Pinlong conference has to be viewed not with standing
its negative side.
This negative side namely the origin of secession can be traced from
the government of India Act 1919, under which Burma was also governed
soon after her conquest Burma was made a province of India. Later when
the nationalist movements gained momentum Burma was ruled as a separate
country under government of Burma Act 1935. The ethnic minorities were
kept secluded from Burma proper and they were directly ruled under
British residency. In fact their status was much inferior to that of
princely states of India. This separation was the seed of secession. The
Act has mentioned of the possibility of native states finally embodied
in the same whole of Dominion status in some relations. What was that
relation was never spelled out. But the hidden agenda came out in the
open when the freedom movement reached its peak. The colonialists
floated the idea of secession between the national's majority and ethnic
minorities. The divisive politics of India and deceleration of creation
of Pakistan out of India created among the nationalist leaders in Burma.
Aung San seemed the historical necessity of conceding the right of
secession to the ethnic monirities not immediately being impropriety,
but only after a period of time. So that during that period fraternity
can be cultivated and understanding reached and secession aborted,
immediate division of the country had to be postponed and frustrated and
inauguration of sovereign Republic of Burma was to be achieved. The
basis of the constitution which was neither unitary nor federal a
hotchpotch to accommodate the ethnic sentiment emerged, from colonialist
point it was a good device to re-enter their fiefdom. It was under these
circumstances that the Pinlong conference document was signed. Unlike
India ­Burma preserved her unity and integrity and became one sovereign
nation.
Although Aung San out maneuvered the colonialists and their lackeys, he
had to pay a heavy price the colonial lackeys realized that their
masters could no longer extend support to them. In desperation they
assassinated Aung San and his cabinet members as a last attempt to
plunge the country in to chaos and confusions. In that situation they
expected to re-emerge as a force in constitution making of Burma. In a
sense if Pinlong conference was not successful Aung San might have
escaped being a victim of assassination.
After Aung San's death in 1947, the constituent Assembly, which was in
deliberations, could have initiated a national debate to have a loose
federation in item of secession and modify and adopt constitution
according to long term objective of unity, integrity and fraternity. But
the fear that the colonialists would exploit the situation and it would
lead to indefinite postponement of independence was so overpowering, the
long-term poisonous implication of the concessions of the right of
secession was not discerned. The vision also what would be ideally
suited was blurred. The ethnic minorities had no unity among themselves

nor did a matured anti imperialist movement and leaders had emerged. The
general feeling was that although the incorporation of the right of
secession after 10 years for the ethnic minorities was inherently wrong,
it however enabled the country to enter immediately as a free nation in
the family of free nations. It was Burma's misfortune that the 10-year
period was wasted and the vital issue was compounded. There was absolute
lack of central initiative for federalism. Soon after independence the
country plunge in to a great political turmoil, the powerful Burma
Communist Party, the Karen ethnic, Regiments of Burma Army went in to
armed revolts. The ruling party headed by U Nu of AFPFL became corrupt
ridden, authoritarian and power mad. Infighting resulted in a vertical
split. The army took overpower and ruled for over a year. Election was
held and U Nu came to power with a land slide victory. For the first
time U Nu seriously started talks on federalism as the 10 years target
was overdue. A conference at Taungyi was called in February 1962, and
the army under Gen. Ne Win staged a coup on the excuse that U Nu was
trying to divide the country in the name of federalism. After army rule
for over a decade Ne Win tried to impose a Sham constitution bulldozing
all the aspirations of ethnic and suppressing democracy altogether.
September 1988 became the watershed. Prodemocracy movement emerged under
the clarsmetic leadership of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The present military
Junta has entered in to a cease-fire with the armed ethnic minorities to
stall the fraternization of these forces. Already some ethnic forces
joined hands with National League for Democracy headed by Aung San Suu
Kyi. A great consolidation of forces is going ahead. The faster these
forces clear up some misunderstanding quicken will the goal be reached.
Democracy is no doubt the paramount question, federalism the rights of
the ethnic people is equally important. The approach should not be the
democracy first and the federalism to be followed out after democracy is
achieved ending the army rule. The ethnic forces can never be drawn in
to the main stream of prodemocracy movement if the design of the new
constitution not transparently put before them. A dialogue is going on
happily to the satisfaction of all people and ethnic engaged in the grim
struggle to end, the military rule. The Union Day of 1999 has a special
significance and the militant forces should steer clear of ultra
nationalism on the one hand and ethnic chauvinism on the other hand.
Federalism is not anti nationalism and secession is not
self-determination.
On this Union Day 1999 people of Burma of all nationalities / races
solemnly pledge that unity, integrity and fraternity of the country
shall be preserved. And  all the nationalities/ races shall have maximum
autonomy. The country will be known as Federal Republic of Burma.  The
democracy shall be the basic law that will guide the governance of the
country and functionary of all institution and the polity, that a
federal constitution which will enforce the principle of equality, of
all the federal units. Which will force as a means to attain objectives

is renounced all disputed differences. Shall be sorted out by dialogue,
negotiation and accord, that a welfare economy independent of foreign
interference, domination shall be operated with emphasis on rural tribal
and backward area, that Burma as a united country will leave in peace
with the international community. This will be the last Union Day at the
turn of century. As Burma will enter in to 21st century, the next Union
Day will be the Union Day to start with this country it will no doubt be
glorious and historical. On this Union Day all prodemocracy forces have
to be thoughtful and introspective. Move aware of their responsibilities
actually conscious of the stupendous work still to be done and
reiterate. The complete and to carry out unfinished tasks- building a
united democratic and prosperous federal republic of Burma where all her
people races tribes and communities will live in harmony with dignity
fraternity equality and prosperity.


B. K. Sen
Advocate (Chief court- Burma)