Certainly clouds are gathering. But the situation is also most cloudy and the future is impossible to predict. What is needed is constant opinion poll. First the idea of ethnic nationalities is a contradiction to the concepr of unity; it is a presumption of disintegration of Burma.
It will be the greatest tragedy for all.
In a free and democratic Burma anyone can run anywhere for a seat in the Parliament.
Gpvernment needs to set up a study group to analyse the benefits of how Burma was governed by the kings, with ethnic elder leaders like sawbwas and duwas in the Royal Court.
In 1988 Crown Prince Schwebomin had suggested the Westminster model with a House of Thakins composed of Bamar and other ethnic leaders elected or appointed by virtue of traditional authority.
President Thein Sein should consider appointing ethnic leaders to the Upper Chamber whilst not interfering or disallowing major parties to contest the seats anywhere.
Most importantly the idea of anyone regardless of ethnicity serving any constituency in the interest of democracy must be most actively promoted.
Also all people must be given intensive education that in the interest of all ethnic chauvinism is most undesirable and that feferalism will play into the hands of external powers including the regional giants.
MP must be elected on the basis of their manifesto for how they will improve the lives of the voters, not for giving power to any ethnic group.
Economically, times are promising but politically very dangerous because of ethnic chauvinism and possibility of one party state elected by the majority who have little or no education.
Political ambitions ahead of what is good for Burma as a whole can ruin Burma worse than BSPP did. All Burmese, no matter where you are take note.

One party system (always turn out to be authoritarian) isn’t the best options for multi-ethnicity country like Myanmar. It must be all inclusive to build Federal system and work together in a same goal for the Union as a whole.

Or else, those Bamar who wants to run for election in ethnic area, the minimum requirement is that he/ she has to reside in that particular area for some period of times. Not only that the knowledge of local language which is fluently speaking and writing one of local language along with knowledge of history of ethnic group and culture. Without that all the ethnic area will be over run by Bamar.

Citizen right is across the board and csn only be created by one sovereign state. Ondividual right to life, limb and liberty is national, nothing to do with federalism. Ethnic is a nonsense:legacy of Panglong timebomb that ignorant federalists without proper understanding of Rousseau’s concept of federation of ‘nation’ states. UK is an artifically ‘United’: impetialist England with bankrupt Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, all separate countries.
Ethnic chauvinism is a recent development caused by neo-colonists and remnant colonists of England. The idea of ‘British’ is increasing questioned. It was useful to colonise backward Asia, Africa, and North America.
Throughout history Burma was a unitary kingdom without any ‘ethnic states’; curiously, that unitary kingdom had the strongest features of real federalism as the kings never engaged in ethnic conflicts or religious wars as in England. Yes, there were dynastic struggles but ruling families intermarried. The system of local administration through Sawbwas, Duwas, Myothugyis was very good. That is why the coloniser stepped into the shoes of Burmese monarchy and started favouring the minorities to create resentment on the part of the majority. This divide-and-rule tactic was applied in Cyprus too. In the European Union fedetalism means surrendering sovereignty of member states to create a superstate of Europe – centralisation in other words. In Burma, federalism means surrendering state power to unelected warlords and drug and jade and teak dealers; it has nothing to do with ethnic right, only to do with licence to be ninority oligarchy of unelected rebels.
It is astounfing how ignorant pro-federalists are. As there are 135 tribes, if thr principle is to be adheted to then there must be 135 federal states.That means back to the monarchical system of Sawbaws and Duwas. Not bad. So, Burma should have adopted the county system of local government, with the sovereign state only concerned with natural…

All states inside Myanmar should have their own local, province officials elected by local people and elected mayors, governors, state officials must reside in the area where are they are running for the post. This way we will have real local official elected to run local affairs. This is real federal system.
There should be two electorial systems. One for federal parlement and one for local/province. This way majority should not rule the minority.
The two election dates should be different.

So called Burma has never been unitary states as we know it. Successive kingdoms after another. Not only that , we have so much differences in ways of culture , language, history , etc. The best solution for Burma is Federal states. We have to respect and honor Panglong Agreement. Once the agreement was signed, the following generation has to respect it. The Panglong agreement is as valid today as the day it was signed.

As a Bamar inside Myanmar, personally I would like to see Federal state, with different ethic deciding then own affairs but united as Union of Myanmar and respecting each other’s culture and language. There will be ethnic from one area living in another ethic area also and we have to respect and protect their rights. No ethnic cleansing. But we also have to respect Panglong agreement if anyone of us want to leave the union, we should separate as friends. Hope fully we should know that we need each other and proud to stay in the “Real” union, respecting each other. We can’t unite a country through the guns.

Bravo Bamar, wish every Burmese are like you. Open minded plus understanding. The Union is where every our differences are respected . Regardless of race, ethnics or religion. At the same time, it is a country where everyone has the right to develope his/ her belief or culture without any prejudice. Bamar majority has to proof that it is the only solution not to go separate ways. We all have to work hard for the development of the country but Bamar has to work hard more to gain trust and confidence from minority ethnic groups.