Karen EAOs and Political Parties Attend Federalism Workshop
Karen EAOs and Political Parties Attend Federalism Workshop
Karen News, 07 Dec 2016
URL: http://karennews.org/2016/12/karen-eaos-and-political-parties-attend-federalism-workshop.html/
Three Karen ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and four Karen political parties held their first federalism workshop at Lay Kay Kaw Myothit in Myawaddy Township, Karen State from 29 to 30 November.
Saw Tar Mu Lar, the Karen National Union (KNU) Chairman’s Office Secretary, said: “People are very keen to know about this issue [federalism]. We won’t get what we want if we don’t know about this [federalism], so, we arranged this [workshop] to teach about federalism.”
The workshop was organized by the Euro-Burma Office (EBO) and the Forum of Federation (FOF), 69 people attended. They included representatives from: the KNU, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC), the Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party, the United Karen National Democratic Party, the Karen State Democracy and Development Party, and the Karen Democratic Party.
During the workshop, FOF discussed: federalism and decentralization, distribution of power, opportunities for decentralization, diversity management in federalism, decentralization and regional governments, schemes for distribution of finances and research relating to federalism.
EBO is a non-governmental organization that is financed by Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and Finland with the aim of assisting in Burma’s peace process by doing things such as arranging meetings between the Burmese government and ethnic armed organizations and giving training.
Since the KNU, DKBA and KNU/KNLA-PC signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) last October they have been cooperating more with international groups, social organizations and experts helping them to hold workshops and training sessions that will help the peace process.
Saw Tar Mu Lar, the Karen National Union (KNU) Chairman’s Office Secretary, said: “People are very keen to know about this issue [federalism]. We won’t get what we want if we don’t know about this [federalism], so, we arranged this [workshop] to teach about federalism.”
The workshop was organized by the Euro-Burma Office (EBO) and the Forum of Federation (FOF), 69 people attended. They included representatives from: the KNU, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC), the Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party, the United Karen National Democratic Party, the Karen State Democracy and Development Party, and the Karen Democratic Party.
During the workshop, FOF discussed: federalism and decentralization, distribution of power, opportunities for decentralization, diversity management in federalism, decentralization and regional governments, schemes for distribution of finances and research relating to federalism.
EBO is a non-governmental organization that is financed by Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and Finland with the aim of assisting in Burma’s peace process by doing things such as arranging meetings between the Burmese government and ethnic armed organizations and giving training.
Since the KNU, DKBA and KNU/KNLA-PC signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) last October they have been cooperating more with international groups, social organizations and experts helping them to hold workshops and training sessions that will help the peace process.