The Kachins Before and After the Panglong Conference of 1947

It is a well-known fact that Panglong, a small town in the Shan State was the birth-place of the Republic of the Union of Burma (Myanmar).  The national leaders of the Hill peoples or the ethnic minorities such as Kachins, Shans, Chins and Kayahs combined their efforts to retain their national aspirations.  To attain their cherished goals, they joined their hands together with the more advanced Burmese led by Bogyoke Aung San and his AFPFL  Party.  In fact, they surrendered some part of their own sovereignty to form a strong central authority (Government) to safe-guard their rights against the British colonial schemes of that time.