The People’s Representatives Committee for Federal (PRCF) hereby announces the official release of the Federal Democratic Union Constitution (Final Draft).
PDF File:
https://bit.ly/prcf2024fcfd
Preamble
The diverse ethnic peoples residing within the Federal Union, upholding liberty, equality and justice as fundamental principles, and recognizing and respecting the inherent rights and human dignity of all ethnic peoples, hereby formulate and adopt this Constitution of the Federal Democratic Union in order to collectively build a peaceful, prosperous and enduring Federal Union founded upon shared values and fundamental principles.
In 1947, leaders from Burma Proper and the Frontier Areas met in Panglong, Shan State, and agreed to establish a federal union and to live together peacefully.
They believed that cooperation is better than conflict, that unity is better than fragmentation, that the sharing and devolution of authority is better than unequal treatment, and that bridges are better than walls and barriers.
Although these beliefs may appear simple, they possess profound strength. We believe that we are stronger when we stand and build together.
We believe that only a federal system can resolve the fundamental conflicts of the Union. We believe in and commit ourselves to the practice of constitutionalism.
This Constitution is grounded in the Panglong Agreement, the Panglong promises and the Panglong principles agreed upon by the national leaders who collectively established the Union. It is also grounded in the genuine federal principles adopted at the 1961 All-States Conference.
We regard the people as the living and enduring source of strength of the country. Recognizing quality education as a fundamental human right that deserves national priority, we commit to developing mother-tongue-based multilingual education without discrimination on the basis of place of residence, ethnicity, religion, colour, gender or economic status.
We uphold and guarantee citizenship rights and voting rights, women’s rights, labour rights and the rights of persons with disabilities, while protecting the freedoms of citizens. We seek to ensure harmony between work and family life, equal pay for men and women performing equal work, and the right to retire from employment with dignity and appropriate pension protection.
We value the historical heritage of all ethnic peoples and place importance on living together, mutually recognizing and respecting diverse cultures, traditions and customary practices, and proudly upholding them.
Recognizing diversity as a shared value, we accept different ideas and beliefs, remain committed to cooperation even where differences of opinion exist, and seek to identify and develop common ground.
We affirm that the original source of sovereign power is the people. State power must always remain in the hands of the people.
We guarantee the right of the people to make their own decisions and the right of the member states of the Union to self-determination.
This Constitution is formulated and adopted with the purpose of rebuilding a collectively owned Union through collective leadership and collective strength.
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