Myanmar’s President Thein Sein said Wednesday that a federal system of government is the ultimate objective of his initiative to forge permanent peace with armed ethnic groups, citing a historic agreement that had guaranteed them political autonomy.
His assurance in a message marking Union Day, the anniversary of the Panglong Agreement struck in 1947, was immediately welcomed by ethnic leaders demanding more power be devolved to their regions through a federal system.
“All national races are to establish national unity based on the ‘Panglong Spirit’ and then march toward a peaceful, modern, and democratic nation through a federal system,” Thein Sein’s message said.
It was read by Vice President Sai Mauk Kaum at a ceremony in Naypyidaw attended by thousands of ministers, military officers, and guests.
In it Thein Sein, whose government has been engaged in long-running peace talks with ethnic rebel groups, also promised that the government was striving to strengthen national reconciliation “in cooperation with all people in the nation.”