Union Accord Part III (Pyidaungsu Accord)

Country/entity
Myanmar
Region
Asia and Pacific
Agreement name
Union Accord Part III (Pyidaungsu Accord)
Date
21 Aug 2020
Agreement status
Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement
Yes
Agreement/conflict level
Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Stage
Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature
Government/territory
Peace process
Myanmar 21st Century Panglong Process
Parties
Dr. Tin Myo Win 
Representative of the Government Group 

Dr. May Win Myint 
Representative of the Hluttaw Group 

Lt-Gen Tin Maug Win 
Representative of the Tatmadaw Group 

Lian Hmung Sakhong 
Representative of the Ethnic Armed Organization Group 

U Thu Wai 
Representative of the Political Parties Group 

U Htone Phoo Dagon
Ethnic Representative Government Group

U Kyaw Win 
Relevant Representative of the Government Group 

Kya Sha Mwe 
Ethnic Representative Ethnic Armed Organization Group

Daw Khin Ma Ma Myo 
Relevant Representative of Ethnic Armed Organization Group 

U Zein Khan Ram 
Ethnic Representative Political Parties Group 

Nang Aye Aye Thwe 
Relevant Representative of the Political Parties Group
Third parties
-
Description
This agreement between the government, the military, and ethnic armed organisations sets core principles which the implementation of the National Ceasefire Agreement is to follow, including: democracy, federalism, cultural, religious, and language rights of ethnic groups.
Main category
Page 2:
2. To prohibit discrimination based on nationality, religion, culture and gender against all the citizens residing in the Union, while ensuring equal rights.

Women, girls and gender

Participation

No specific mention.

Equality
Equality→Equality (general)
Page 2:
2. To prohibit discrimination based on nationality, religion, culture and gender against all the citizens residing in the Union, while ensuring equal rights.
Particular groups of women

No specific mention.

International law

No specific mention.

New institutions

No specific mention.

Violence against women

No specific mention.

Transitional justice

No specific mention.

Institutional reform

No specific mention.

Development

No specific mention.

Implementation

No specific mention.

Other

No specific mention.

Union Accord Part III

1. With the aim of the non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty, based on freedom, equality and justice, and in accordance with the Panglong spirit, to turn the Republic of the Union of Myanmar into a Union based on democracy and federal system that assures democracy, national equality and self-determination through the outcomes of political discussions, the 4th session of the Union Peace Conference—21st Century Panglong was held in Nay Pyi Taw from 19 to 21 August 2020.

2. At the conference, the policy proposals made from the discussions of the proposals submitted by the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) were agreed as parts of the Union Accord.

3. The Union Accord Part III includes the 20 points of agreement and work plans and implementations in the post-2020:

(a) Agreement 1—the 15 points of the framework agreement on implementing the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (Addendum-a)

(b) Agreement 2— the stage-by-stage work programmes and step-by-step in the post-2020 (Addendum-b)

(c) Agreement 3— the five-points agreement of fundamental principles to establish a Union based on democracy and federal system (Addendum-b)

4. The heads of each group and the witnesses sign the above agreements at the 4th session of the Union Peace Conference—21st Century Panglong as the Union Accord Part III in accordance with the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement Section 20 (e).

Part 2 of the Union Accord Part III

1. Dr. Tin Myo Win

Representative of the Government Group

2. Dr. May Win Myint

Representative of the Hluttaw Group

3. Lt-Gen Tin Maug Win

Representative of the Tatmadaw Group

4. Dr. Lian Hmung Sakhong

Representative of the Ethnic Armed Organization Group

5. U Thu Wai

Representative of the Political Parties Group

Page 3 of the Union Accord Part III

U Htone Phoo Dagon

Ethnic Representative Government Group

U Kyaw Win

Relevant Representative of the Government Group

Kya Sha Mwe

Ethnic Representative Ethnic Armed Organization Group

Daw Khin Ma Ma Myo

Relevant Representative of Ethnic Armed Organization Group

U Zein Khan Ram

Ethnic Representative Political Parties Group

Nang Aye Aye Thwe

Relevant Representative of the Political Parties Group

Union Accord Part III Addendum – A

Agreement 1

Framework Agreement on Implementing Nationwide

Ceasefire Agreement-NCA

(21 August 2020)

1. To develop the Republic of the Union of Myanmar into a Union based on democracy and federal system that assures democracy, national equality and self-determination through the outcomes of political discussions, with the aim of the non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty, based on freedom, equality and justice, and in accordance with the Panglong spirit.

2. To prohibit discrimination based on nationality, religion, culture and gender against all the citizens residing in the Union, while ensuring equal rights.

3. To establish a nation where there is no misuse of religion for political purpose and where politics and religion are separated from each other.

4. To settle all disagreements between peace negotiators through the goodwill towards sustainable peace.

5. To implement the issues of the Accord effectively in order to observe mutual assurances of the Accord, achieve the peace process through transparency, responsibility and accountability and stay away from taking advantage of the could-be developments.

6. To strive for the safety of life, property and wealth of the entire people of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and the uplifting of their lives.

7. To identify the ones that need interpretation out of the points included in the NCA, and hold serious dialogues that will produce common understandings and definitions between the groups.

8. To review the accomplishments of the UPDJC and the JMC within the committees, and take necessary steps towards their further effectiveness and consolidation through the bilateral consent and coordination.

9. To recognize the diversity of the background history, traditions and culture, literature, languages and national characteristics of the ethnic nationalities residing in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and collectively establish an icon of the Union by the citizens through a diversity of ethnics and languages.

Note:

The icon of the Union represents the only consolidated Union.

11. To organize peace talks between troops of both sides on the points of NCA that still need further negotiations are agreed.

12. (

a) It is agreed to establish a Union based on democracy and federal system towards the realization of sustainable peace through bilateral coordination of the post-2020 stage-by-stage work programmes and step-by-step implementations adopted by the Union Peace Conference – the 21st Century Panglong.

(b) The Government, the Hluttaw, the Tatmadaw and NCA-S EAOs must continue their endeavours with responsibility and accountability for the successful realization of the Union Accord.

For the faithful pursuance the original consents of the Union Accord and the basic principles, objectives and visions of the NCA, while setting up a mechanism for the realization of the Union Accord through bilateral coordination.

(c) As for the restoration of sustainable peace, bilateral negotiations for the security reconciliations (in accordance with the para 30 of NCA) in the Union based on democracy and federalism, the discussions on work programmes, the bilaterally agreed preparatory undertakings, and the formation of a mechanism for security reconciliations are agreed.

13. The realization of the points stipulated in the Union Accord and the security reconciliations shall be in accordance with the Road Map of the para 20 of NCA.

14. The realization of the accords of NCA shall be conducted through bilateral agreements of the regular meetings of the different levels of the JMCs legally formed under the NCA and the UPDJC, and the bilateral negotiations shall be held in parallel.

15. The amendment of the framework of the political dialogue by the UPDJC as necessary based on the outcomes of the Union Peace Conference – 21st Century Panglong is agreed

Union Accord Part III Addendum (b)

The Agreement 2

Stage by State work programmes and step by step implementations

in the post 2020

(21 August 2020)

Table column 1:

´ Establishment of Union based on democracy and federal system;

(Stage-1) Formulating principles for Union based on democracy and federal system;

(Stage-2) Implementing Union based on democracy and federal system;

(Stage-3) Strengthening Union based on democracy and federal system´

Table column 2:

´Democracy and Federal issues;

Establishing federal system Administrative reform Economy and development Rights for financial sector Land and resource Developing democracy Social harmony Security reconciliation (in line with paragraph 30 of NCA)´

Table column 3:

´Implementation Steps´

Table Column 3a:

´Political negotiations´

Table Column 3b:

´Technical negotiations´

Table Column 3c:

Implementation´

Union Accord Part III Addendum (c)

Agreement 3

Fundamental principles to establish a Union based on

democracy and the federal system

(21 August 2020)

Preamble

With the aim of the non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty, based on freedom, equality and justice, and in accordance with the Panglong spirit, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar will be developed into a Union based on democracy and federal system that assures democracy, national equality and self-determination through the outcomes of political discussions.

1. Democracy and federal system will be based on developing the country into a Union.

2. A separate and independent Constitutional Tribunal will be established to settle disputes related to the Constitution between the Union and the regions/states or among the regions and states.

3. ( a) Power, resource, tax and finance will be divided between the Union and regions/states in line with the federal system

(b)The three branches of sovereign pillars— legislative, executive and judiciary pillars— will be shared to the Union, regions/states, and self-administered areas.

Legislative powers and joint powers among the Union, regions/states and self-administered areas will be shared in line with the Constitution.

(c) The Union and regions/states shall have the rights to exercise the divided powers on legislative, executive and judiciary sectors.

4. Due respect and equal authority shall be developed among regions/states.

5. Fundamental rights of all citizens and their duties shall be included in the Constitution.

Every citizen shall have equal rights before the law and shall have equal legal protection.

Law must be enacted for the rights of national races to protect their cultures, literature, languages, faiths and traditions.

Note:

Regions/states shall have equal powers.

The description of names will be discussed in next meetings.)