3rd Spring Flowers International Conference Concluded with a Celebration of the 77th Anniversary of Myanmar Union Day
For Immediate Release
INDIANAPOLIS, February 14, 2024 — The 3rd Spring Flowers International Conference on Myanmar, hosted by the Burmese American Community Institute (BACI) and the National University of the Union of Myanmar (NUUM)-Global Campus, in partnership with co-hosts and co-sponsors, concluded on Saturday with a celebration of the 77th Anniversary of Myanmar Union Day. February 1 also marked the three year anniversary of the military coup that ended a ten-year period of quasi-democratic rule in Myanmar.
The conference reaffirmed support for building a federal democratic Union of Myanmar based on the principles of freedom, equality, and self-determination established by the 1947 Panglong Agreement among different ethnic groups of Myanmar.
In an effort to support peace and democracy in Myanmar (also known as Burma), the conference brought together local, national, and international actors from diverse backgrounds and from around the globe.
The four-day conference, registered online by over 1200, included seven academic panels with presentations by over 60 scholars and researchers, four expert panels with panelists coming from diverse backgrounds, including U.S Government, members of the Myanmar diaspora, think tanks, and international organizations, a roundtable discussion, and over ten keynote speeches and other speeches.
Discussion and debate in the conference focused on four strategic priorities in achieving the shared vision of a Federal Democratic Union of Myanmar: fundamental reform through designing and adopting a new federal constitution and state constitutions, building a new professional military or Federal Army placed firmly under civilian oversight that reflects the ethnic diversity of the country, designing institutions and mechanisms through which humanitarian assistance and public goods and services can be delivered effectively, and strengthening international partnerships with the participation of the Myanmar diaspora.
Conference speakers and discussants generated ideas on ways to strengthen unity among democratic actors in Myanmar coordinate strategic action, and mobilize participation of all stakeholders with the support of the international community.
In his remarks, Elaisa Vahnie, Executive Director of BACI, thanked the international community, especially the US Government and Hoosiers, for standing alongside the Myanmar people. Mr. Vahnie said that coordinated efforts with the international community and friends must be strengthened in the four strategic priority areas to achieve the common vision of a new democratic Myanmar.
In his remarks, Elaisa Vahnie, Executive Director of BACI, thanked the international community, especially the US Government and Hoosiers, for standing alongside the Myanmar people. Mr. Vahnie said that coordinated efforts with the international community and friends must be strengthened in the four strategic priority areas to achieve the common vision of a new democratic Myanmar.
“We have come here together today not only to reaffirm our support for federal democracy and peace in the country but also to help the people of Myanmar reclaim their freedom, equality and self-determination, all of which are enshrined in the spirit and principles of the Panglong Agreement” said Vahnie.
Senator Todd Young, Congressman André Carson, and Mayor Joe Hogsett all offered their continued commitment to support the Burmese community in Indianapolis and the movement for peace and democracy in the Southeast Asia nation.
A Myanmar Union Day statement issued by the Convening Committee of the Celebration of the 77th anniversary of Myanmar Union Day in Indianapolis calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all those imprisoned as a result of the military coup on February 1, 2021, including State Counsellor and Nobel laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint, members of Parliament, and civil society leaders, and for serious and inclusive talks to bring the country back on a path to democracy.
Mayor Hogsett said, “With instability overseas, the last several years have been particularly challenging. That’s why it is so important that all immigrant communities, but especially those who find themselves fleeing violence or persecution, are greeted warmly, gratefully, graciously, and most importantly lovingly by the citizens of and the city of Indianapolis.”
Congressman Carson reaffirmed his commitment to supporting freedom, equality and federal democracy in Myanmar. “We are standing here for peace, we are here standing for democracy, we are here standing with and for the resilient, the very strong, and beautiful Hoosier Indianapolis Burmese community.”
His Excellency Mahn Win Khaing Than, Prime Minister of National Unity Government of the Union of Myanmar, His Excellency U Aung Kyi Nyunt, Chairman of the Committee Representing the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, the legislative body of the opposition National Unity Government of Myanmar, and other speakers from Burmese democratic forces all emphasized the need to strengthen unity with the support of Myanmar diaspora and the urgency of redoubling efforts to build a new Myanmar.
In his address, H.E. U Aung Kyi Nyunt thanked Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, Congressman Carson, Senator Young and the Myanmar Diaspora on behalf of the people of Myanmar and stressed the importance of strengthening unity among democratic forces and partnership with the Myanmar diaspora and friends. In 2020, Mayor Hogsett proclaimed February 12 as Myanmar Union Day in Indianapolis, making it the first major city outside of Myanmar to recognize Myanmar Union Day officially.
In a special panel on U.S. Policy and Humanitarian Response to the Myanmar Crisis, officials representing several US Government bureaus, including the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs and Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, discussed U.S. policy, US Government efforts to coordinate with the international community and allies to encourage the restoration of democracy in Myanmar and provision of humanitarian aid, the issue of refugees and internally displaced persons, and broader aspects of U.S. Government engagement and assistance to the people of Myanmar. In the Education and Scholarship panel, the officials also shared US Government efforts to promote mutual understanding between the American people and the people of Myanmar through various scholarship and cultural exchange programs. These include USAID’s recently announced $45 million Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program (DISP) for Myanmar youth.
“I, for one, will continue to stand with the people of Burma, including friends and loved ones in Indiana, and around the globe. I believe that together we can bring real change.”, said Senator Todd Young, who has been at the forefront of U.S. Senate action in support of Myanmar’s democracy and who helped draft and secure bipartisan support for the BURMA Act and the Combating Global Corruption Act which was included in the National Defense Authorization Act..
In his concluding remarks as conference co-sponsor, Martin Bier, President and CEO of the International Center, said that the strength of the Center is to convene and connect and that he could not be prouder to work with BACI and the Burmese community in events such as Myanmar Union Day. This celebration, he said, helps bridge cultural caps and instill even greater appreciation for the cultural contributions the Burmese community makes to life in greater Indianapolis.
The 77th Myanmar Union Day not only reaffirmed the principles of the Panglong Agreement but also showcased the rich culture and diversity of the people of Myanmar through musical and cultural performances. Conversations during the conference in support of advancing peace and democracy in Myanmar contributed to solving some of the most complex and interconnected problems in the world today. ##
Special thanks to conference and Union Day co-hosts and co-sponsors
About BACI
Burmese American Community Institute (BACI) is a non-profit organization founded in 2011 that provides educational and vocational support to the Burmese community in greater Indianapolis. BACI also supports community members regionally, nationally, and globally through new initiatives, collaborative and strategic partnerships, and advocacy.
About NUUM
The National University of the Union of Myanmar (NUUM) -Global Campus was established in July 2021. It currently offers over 12 certificate programs to Myanmar students through online courses taught by instructors from Myanmar as well as friends of Myanmar from around the globe. In addition to providing teaching and learning opportunities and training, NUUM contributes to reform efforts and building systems for future democratic institutions, serves as a hub for academic research, scholarship, and intellectual inquiry, and generates ideas for innovations and policy debate, in support of democracy in Myanmar. Website: https://nuumedu.org/
About CRPI
The CRPI promotes collaborative research and policy and action projects with local researchers, Burmese scholars, international colleagues, and stakeholders engaged in work related to the Burmese American community, Asian Americans, Myanmar, Southeast Asia, and diaspora communities. The goal of the CRPI is to carry out innovative research activities, policy, and development-oriented projects that align with BACI’s vision and mission for advocacy, education, and service. For more information about the center, visit the CRPI Page at: https://crpi-us.org/
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