Sagaing Forum
The Sagaing Forum was formed with the aim of building a regional consultative council or grouping that can coordinate, discuss and make decisions among the political and revolutionary organizations in Sagaing Region taking part in the Spring Revolution, in order to end dictatorship, achieve self-determination and self-government, and bring about a federal system.
The Sagaing Forum was formed with the aim of building a regional consultative council or grouping that can coordinate, discuss and make decisions among the political and revolutionary organizations in Sagaing Region taking part in the Spring Revolution, in order to end dictatorship, achieve self-determination and self-government, and bring about a federal system.
The first Sagaing Forum was held on May 30 and 31, 2023, with 173 organizations from 28 townships in the region and 31 observers, and 30 partner organizations sent messages. The forum discussed four main sectors: political, military, local administration and general.
In Letter No. (1/2023)[1], the first Sagaing Forum announced that, in line with the Federal Democracy Charter, it had discussed as urgent regional-level political next steps (a) bringing about regional-level transitional arrangements, (b) drafting regional-level self-determination policies, (c) mutual checks between administrative and military bodies in the region, and (d) strengthening and uniting local defence forces, and that details would be sent only to leaders and groups from the regions that attended.
The forum faced criticism that it aimed to set up a rival to the National Unity Government (NUG), or to establish a separate army or organization. Although the members of the Forum Formation Group have not been officially announced, the NUG Ministry of Defence (MoD) temporarily expelled Ko Nway Oo (Myaung), who was said to be part of the group. The forum's spokesperson group responded to the criticism through the media.
On July 11, it announced that, through meetings and organizing, it had formed the Sagaing Forum, Sagaing People's Mutual Aid Network[2]. The network was formed after 27 relief groups for displaced people in Sagaing met and set policies, and it announced that it would work in connection with the NUG.
The Forum Formation Group met forces inside and outside the region to discuss the difficulties, weaknesses and challenges of the first forum, next steps and future political aspirations.
On August 6, it met the NUG MoD and explained its compiled positions on the military sector, and announced[3] that they agreed on processes for practical cooperation toward a single Chain of Command (CoC) in the revolution.
For the second forum, it continued meeting forces inside and outside the region to gather views and advice from various fields, and also met the Committee Representing Sagaing Region Hluttaw, the secretariat of the NUG Federal and State Coordination Commission (FSCC), the Mon Federal Council, the Karenni State Consultative Council and the Ayeyarwady Federal Council.
On November 11, 2023, the forum issued "Announcement on the Ongoing Developments of the Sagaing Revolution"[4]. The statement said that, in a coordinated operation with "1027" in Sagaing Region, NUG MoD Military Region (1) command, allied forces, PDF battalions, People's Defence Teams (PaKaFa) and local defence forces (Local PDFs) launched simultaneous offensives and took full control of Kawlin and Khampat; that political progress is also especially needed during region-wide coordinated operations; and it urged[5] regional forces to listen to and accept each other's diversity in line with public will and to work together.
On November 18, the Forum Formation Group issued[6] its position urging that, after the fourth regular session of the Sagaing Region Hluttaw approved and enacted the law on preparations for drafting the Sagaing Federal Unit interim constitution, the political negotiation process among revolutionary forces in the region should be carried out so as to reach mutual understanding.
Then, the second Sagaing Forum was held from January 3 to 5, attended by 164 revolutionary forces from within the region and 45 representatives of partner forces from outside, with some 2020-elected representatives taking part only as observers. In Letter No. (1/2024)[7], it announced that, implementing the political goal from the first forum's compiled positions of bringing about a regional grouping of the region's political and revolutionary forces, it had approved the framework for forming the "Sagaing Federal Council (Forerunner)" with amendments and recommendations. The statement said the second forum formed and assigned the council (Forerunner) with 35 representatives from five groups, and that the 2020-elected group was not yet able to take part for now.
Related updates
Sagaing Federal Unit Interim Constitution: Second Draft Completed
On February 1, the Sagaing Federal Unit Hluttaw announced that, after studying the recommendations, analyses, and discussions from the factions within the Sagaing Federal Unit, the draft of the Constitution for the interim period of the Sagaing Federal Unit (Second Draft) had been completed.
Renaming the Forum Organizing Team to the Federation of Sagaing Forum
On November 10, at the fourth assembly attended by all Sagaing Forum Forces, it was announced that the Sagaing Forum Organizing Team had been renamed the Federations of Sagaing Forum.
Submit the Proposed Interim Structure of Sagaing to Parliament
The Sagaing Federal Unit Interim Constitution (Draft) Drafting Commission, which is made up of political forces in the Sagaing Region, has submitted the draft to the Regional Federal Unit Hluttaw, the parliament announced on October 25.
Sagaing Forum organizing committee issues statement on foreign investment
On August 31, the Sagaing Forum Organizing Team stated that even though the current dynamic situation in the country presented numerous challenges for the stability and operation of foreign investments within Sagaing Region (Federal Unit), the foreign investors should cease any collaboration with the terrorist military group responsible for numerous war crimes and instead prioritize the will and interests of the Sagaing people.