Five months into the coup and the situation in Burma is at a standstill. Min Aung Hlaing and his good for nothing SAC is flopping dramatically and it seems like everything is going as planned until you realized the National Unity Government (NUG) itself is not so promising. In this article, we will be giving our perspective on what is wrong with the NUG and the respective parties. This by no mean is an article degrading the importance of this revolution or a lobby article favouring the opposition junta. Every opinion and perspective in this article are meant for the betterment of our legal government and this revolution.
NUG: Part of the solution or Part of the problem?
“NUG is developing Superiority Complexes”. This is what many political activists and observers have to say about the NUG a few months after its formation. Neglecting the voices of our ethnic brothers and sisters, still holding onto NLD’s Centralized and Bamar Supremacy policies and failing to completely let-go of the 2008 Constitution are just some examples of NUG’s many simple-minded fallacies.
They can’t expect triumph without the assist of respective ethnic parties and armed organizations. The so called “People’s Mandate” is impractical when facing a ruthless and a blood-thirsty regime. It might win you “some” diplomatic wars but will not give you any de-facto power and mind you achieving de-facto power all alone is out of the question. The NUG will have to invite other parties willingly, listen to their thoughts and ideas and work cooperatively in building this new nation.
To add on, it is very disconsolate to see the NUG and Committee Representing the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) holding onto the 2008 Constitution despite warnings from the general public and other respective parties to let go of it completely. The CRPH bluntly called for a parliamentary meeting on the 30th of June and making it worse only elected MPs from the NLD were there. As if other ethnic parties that won seats in the previous election were invisible and nugatory.
Please do note that majority of the CRPH members are National League for Democracy (NLD) MPS with just three MPS from ethnic parties. The legislative body itself is practicing one-party authoritarian system, not giving others a chance. It indeed is outrageous.
How can our ethnic brothers and sisters trust us when both NUG and CRPH itself is going against Federal ideas? We have no right to blame them when they decide to walk on their own path and seek for their own sovereignty. Remember, we failed to grasp this golden opportunity.
Plain Stupidity
Out of all mistakes NUG made, interfering into National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) is just unforgivable. Standing in the way of the very council that gave birth to your institution is a sin Min Aung Hlaing won’t even commit. According to the Federal Charter approved on the 30th of May, the role of the NUCC is to plan the drafting of a new Federal Constitution and a nation-wide referendum.
Let’s take a look at what the NUG did on the 20th of May. They released a statement forming a committee comprising of their own cabinet members, to draft a new constitution. With a single statement, the NUG broke an article from the federal charter, interfered into NUCC’s responsibilities and ended their own political career. This made them no better than a mediocre politician who can’t follow a simple rule. For many of you wondering who’s in the NUCC, they’re made up of:
- Elected Parliamentarians (CRPH)
2. Ethnic Political Parties
3. Strike Committees/ Women, Youth and Local Civil Societies
4. Ethnic Armed Organizations
Breaking a rule from the Federal Charter is the same as dis-respecting the parties mentioned above. May Oo Mutraw , a well-known Karen member of the NUCC even had to call it as “incest”.
Not a single soul is innocent
Then are the remaining party's innocent? Obviously not. By the term parties, we mean the EAOs, Ethnic Political Parties and Student Unions. Unlike the NUG, these parties have been active for a long time and have some sense of what exactly is to be tackled. Especially the ethnic political parties and EAOs, whom have been resisting against the military for decades and have great amount of knowledge on Federal issues. Students from the student unions also have vast apprehension on several political issues. Sadly, some of them have this “You can’t do anything without us” mindset which is a bit agitating. Although we do understand their stance on being supressed for decades and do empathize their feelings, it is not wrong to get rid of that toxic mindset and offer a helping hand. All parties involved have been really supportive but it would be a lot better if they could work together putting aside their differences and superiority complexes.
It is indeed very despairing to see what’s happening inside Myanmar right now and we believe many are demoralized. Different parties need to come hand in hand and work things out harmoniously as soon as possible. We can augur a victory coming close. Stay strong and stay healthy. We will pass this mountain very soon.