Ethnic Leaders Foresee Burma's Interim Govt As The Way Forward

BNI

Network Media Group

Thursday, April 22, 2021

Ethnic leaders said that the formation of the interim government, which includes many ethnic representatives, is a positive step for the establishment of a federal union in Burma.

Padoh Mahn Mahn, spokesperson of Karen National Union Brigade 5, said the National Unity Government (NUG), established by the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), will allow for federalism.

"It is because NUG follows CRPH's Federal Democracy Charter (FDC) that we expect we can build a federal democratic union that all the ethnic nationalities want," Padoh Mahn Mahn told NMG.

CRPH revealed the charter on March 31 after annulling the controversial 2008 Constitution.

FDC supports the formation of a federal union, which the ethnic nationalities have long demanded.

CRPH consists of elected MPs from the National League for Democracy ousted by the military regime during the February 1 coup.

Khu Thae Reh, general secretary of the Kayah State Democratic Party said NUG wants to build unity with the minority groups. In the past, he said his party called a “national unity government”.

Nai Banyar Mon, director of Federal Affairs and Policy Center, is confident “they can build a federal democratic union very similar to what ethnic nationalities desire” if the interim government incorporates the first part of the charter.

Not all of the ethnic nationalities have representatives in NUG but Gumgrawng Awng Hkam, former chair for Kachin Democratic Party, told NMG the interim govt is trying its best to convince them to join. He said all ethnic groups should participate in the new government. “They must have all-inclusive participation to build a federal union, and I think they need to discuss this with all the stakeholders."

Representatives from the Kachin, Karen, Karenni, Mon, Chin and Ta'ang communities already are included in the interim government.

Duwa Lashi La, NUG's vice-president and an ethnic Kachin, said everyone in the new government must adhere to the principles outlined in the FDC for the right path forward.

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