The Shan Federal Proposal ( 1961 )

RESOLUTIONS

OF

THE (SHAN STATE) STEERING COMMITTEE

FOR THE

REVISION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNION OF BURMA

The provisions for equal and opportunities between the various states and nationalities are not adequately prescribed in the present Constitution of the Union of Burma.
The Steering Committee has therefore unanimously decided that to ensure equal rights and opportunities for all, the Constitution should be revised in accordance with the principles of a truly federal constitution.
The Steering Committee hereby resolves that in redrafting the Constitution, in accordance with genuine federal principles, the following basic requirements for ensuring equality shall be included:

1.	Establishment of a Burmese State;
2.	Assignment of equal powers to both Chambers of the Union Parliament;
3.	Each State to be represented by an equal number of representatives in the Chamber of Nationalities;
4.	The following Departments shall be vested in the Central Union, while all other powers, rights and entitlements shall be transferred to the States. (a) Foreign Affairs; (b) Union Defence; (c) Union Finance; (d) Coinage and Currency; (e) Posts and Telegraphs; (f) Railways, Airways and Waterways; (g) Union Judiciary; (h) Sea Customs. Duty.
5.	Union revenue to be distributed equitably.

The above proposals were unanimously adopted on Tuesday, the 24^th January 1961.
The Union of Burma covers an area of 262,000 square miles. The Shan State, with a population of approximately two million, and covering an area of 60,416 square miles, is the largest State, and occupies almost a quarter of the total area of the Union of Burma. The Shan State lies in the eastern part of the Union of Burma, with the Kachin State and the People’s Republic of China bordering it to the north, Laos and Thailand to the east, the Kayah State to the south, and the Districts of Yamethin, Mandalay and Shwebo bordering it to the west. The Shan State lies on a thickly forested plateau whose average height is between 2,000 and 3,000 feet above sea level, but there are some low-lying areas which are barely 800 feet above sea level.
The Shan State enjoys a very favorable climate and consequently produces such crops as rice, pulses, fruit and vegetables in every part of the State. But because of the sparse population and difficult communications, rice production has not developed much, though the potential for development is there. On the other hand, in spite of the drawbacks, the orchards have produced a surplus of valuable fruits which have been distributed throughout Burma. Apart from agricultural products, many types of minerals have also been located all over the Shan State. If valuable minerals such as iron, zinc, tin, silver, wolfram can be systematically extracted, using modern techniques, the economy of the Shan State could dramatically improve, so to speak, overnight. Even today, the Bawdwin Mines in Namtu, is the largest mine in the Union of Burma. If the Shan State were to receive the revenues being collected annually from the mine, it would contribute greatly to the State’s funds. Further, if zinc mines in the vicinity of the State Capital, Taunggyi, at Pingno, Thandaung, and in Mong Pawn could be systematically exploited, they could become big and well-known mines, not only in the Union of Burma, but even throughout Southeast Asia. By creating such huge mining industries, a source of economic development for the entire population of the Shan State could come into being. There are also many natural waterfalls in the Shan State and harnessing hydro-power could also bring benefits to the State.