My History in Photo Part 6

8/13/2019 My History in Photo Part 6.

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HISTORY OF BURMA AS I REMEMBERPart 6.

The word 'Hilarious' may not be sufficient to describe a top leader of a highsounding political organization shouting at the top of his lung demanding for the

Second Panglong Conference! It is distressing that how many Panglong Conference had

been convened and whether the spirit of that Conference still exist or null andvoid is unbeknownst to this Gentleman Bozo of lowly political caliber.

The First Panglong Conference was held in March 1946 in the tradition of holding public festival. The convener was H. C. N. Stevenson, Director of the FAA [Frontier Area Administration] 'embracing principality of frontier or tribal peoples'.

Exhibition of arts and crafts, industry and native products, and a bazaar wasincluded along with free public speeches. One representative from each political

party from Burma proper was invited. Dignitaries such as Thakin Aung San from AFPFL, and U Saw was invited. As Thakin Aung San had previous engagement to travel

to Rakhine AFPFL sent a top leadership delegation with Thakin Nu, U Ba Gyan, U AungZan Wai, Mahn Ba Khine and a couple of EC members. As they were not invited they

were barred from attending the Conference.

Shan States Peoples' Freedom League and Youth League U Tin Aye, known as Shan Tin Aye in the political circle, and Lingkhe U Tun Myint persuaded ShanSao Bwas to

accept the AFPFL Delegation. Student Union Movement of 1930s, and Dobama Asiayone'sactivities had gained some friendship with Chin as well as Shan masses and mass

leaders. U Phay Kin, a Burmese Muslim, well contacted with Shan Sao Bwas, was AFPFL's liaison.

Thakin Nu was the first speaker after the opening of the Conference. He gave a

'good account of Burma's political plans and the role of Shan States and hill

peoples would play together with the Burmese for the independence of the wholecountry '. Thakin Nu 'appealed for the unity and to the historic role of Burmese andhills peoples having stood together in dynastic times'. Thakin Nu attacked 'the

British policy of deliberate separation of the peoples and of keeping the hill

peoples in a stagnant primitive state'.

The next speaker was U Saw. U Phay Kin filed a report: 'it was a great success, and

U Saw's speech was a flop '. Stevenson flipped: 'attacking the British Government infront of the Frontier Service Officers' was the straw that broke Stevenson's back.

Some senior Sao Bwas apologized Stevenson for the 'intemperate' speech of Thakin Nuand, of course, praised the polished speech of U Saw.

Prior to the next Conference Thakin Aung San led a delegation to London for the

final rounds of talks. Dated Lashio 16:30 December 30, 1946 a telegram was relayedto London by the Frontier Areas Administration, from the Executive Council of ShanStates Soa Bwas to the Secretary of State for Burma: 'We have today sent the

following telegram to Director of FAA; begin: "We understand that the Hon'ble U

Aung San and the Burmese Mission visiting London will seek for control of FA. If

this is the case we wish to state emphatically that neither the Hon'ble U Aung San

nor any of his colleagues has any mandate to speak on behalf of FA '. Against this backdrop Thakin Aung San negotiated with his British counterpart but having the

ethnic joined with the Burmese in obtaining independence was a prerequisite.

Meanwhile FAA Director Stevenson tried his best to keep FA under FAA and had eventried to criticize the Governor. British Secretary of State agreed with the

Governor and retired Stevenson and barred from attending the crucial Second



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Panglong Conference. Mr. Leyden, Deputy Director was appointed as the Director ofFA.

The London Agreement stipulated that the Second Panglong Conference 'should be usedas a sounding board for the desires of the FA peoples as to their future relations

with the Burmese'. The convening date was set for the beginning of February. TheShan Sao Bwas arrived there on time and had their own Primary Conference. The

Conference commenced on February 3 and was immediately challenged by FAA in chargeof Southern Shan States and the Karenni States whether it was the pre-war Federal

Council of Shan States? The implication was that if it was so the Shans needed the permission from him and he or his senior must be presided the Conference. Shansdenied and continued their conference.

On the February 4 Kachin Delegation arrived and commenced the discussion and the

agreement between the two factions was announced on February 6 demanding from theBurmese Government: 'Democratic Rights and Equality with the Burmese,

representation in the Government of Burma complete responsibility for the FA

internal affairs and in addition have joint responsibility for external affairs,defense, railways and customs departments, a separate Kachin State, that the

understanding between Burmese representatives and HMG at the London Talks was to

have no effect on Shan and Kachin peoples, and lastly, the right of secession after

independence'.

On February 7 the Chin Delegation arrived Panglong and negotiated with the Shans

and the Kachins. Chin did not ask for separate state but 'support from central

government funds to make up their budget deficits, and to set up the Supreme

Council of the United Hill Peoples [SCOUP] where all matters concerning the hill

people would be discussed and decided upon and the negotiated with the Burmese'.

On February 8 Thakin Aung San and Arthur Bottomley, Parliamentary Under Secretary

for Dominion Affairs along with a group of British officer arrived Panglong. At the Mass Meeting of the Day Thakin Aung San briefed the Meeting regarding the London

Talks; his 'expectation of Burma's independence by early 1948; if the Shan Stateswanted to be independent at the same time they could join Burma; but they were free

to stay on their own, and struggle for independence though whether it would take

ten years or a hundred ' and Thakin Aung San added: 'he did not want to speculate'.

On that night Thakin Aung San had further negotiation session with the three ethnicgroups. He offered: 'autonomy, invited them to take the seat he had won in Londonfor them as Counselor for Frontier Affairs, and join the Executive Council without

portfolio '. Thakin Aung San assured: 'fair treatment and equality '.



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Tawngpeng Sao Bwa on behalf of the Shan replied: 'Shans desired for independence,rejection of the FA Councils, interested in Burma's economic situation and her

capacity to support the entire FA'.

Nevertheless, the Shans, the Kachins, and the Chins, under the influence of the FAA

Officers had not made the decisive decision whether to join with the Burmese, andobtain independence; precious time was severely wasted and consequently the fears

of Burman returned.

Thakin Aung San was frustrated and inclined to think thatthe ethnic leaders wereincapable of understanding the political enhancements offered ; and considered to gohome. Thus, Thakin Aung San, according to a source, 'diplomatically ' but according

to other source 'advised to ' skip attending the following day meeting. The main

concern of the ethnic leaders was to have adequate financial contribution

confirmation from the Burmese. At the very long last U Tun Myint had to remind theSao Bwas whether they would make formal decision to join with Burma. U Khun Saw of

Pindaya introduced a crucial resolution for unity to gain independence that was

approved unanimously. FAA officers pressured some bendable ethnic leaders to undothe commitment. That afternoon, Mr. Bottomley warned: 'the danger of rushing into

commitments, advising them that political agreement should be made looking into the

distant future and of the possibility of inconsolable regrets for leaving one word

or phrase out'. Sama Duwa Sinwa Nawng shouted out in protest against Bottomley in

very 'unkind ' language, according to a source.

It has always been an accepted norm that the political vision of the Shans, Kachin, Chin andThakin Aung San made the Panglong Agreement came to

an existence; however, no one mentioned seriously

and praised the national spirit and the politicalvision of Shan U Tin Aye and Lingkhe U Tun Myint,

the real prime movers of the success of thePanglong Conference. The two deserve praises morethan anyone else.

2/5/2014 7:47:40 PM

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My History in Photo Part 6