My response text at the “Protecting Civic Society & Ethnic Minorities in a Federal Democratic Myanmar” panel on 3rd Nov 2022.

Background:
Video of the panel can be found here (Currently only Burmese translation):
https://www.facebook.com/ALTSEAN
I have been asked to post the English text of my response to the panel on My response text at the “Protecting Civic Society & Ethnic Minorities in a Federal Democratic Myanmar” panel on 3rd Nov 2022.

Originally I was supposed to just be providing a pre-recorded segment (which the video of might get posted somewhere) but *things change* and a couple of days before I was asked to appear live as a reactor. Given that I had already produced a bit of a section of my thoughts I used that as a basis & as the session progressed I added my reaction into the framework… It got a bit too long so I also ran out of time in the segment. Anyways text below pretty much verbatim (except the last 5 paragraphs which I condensed into like 3 lines on the actual event) .

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In preparing for this panel I reached out to numerous friends in Milk Tea Alliance spaces from Myanmar because it is their view not mine that need representing. Not all of them agree on everything (Including me attending with the minister on the platform) but all share a dream of a better future.

The following is a quote from one of the groups I reached out to which I think shows not only the desire but also how carefully they have thought through what they want the future to look like.

“The essence of a democratic system is the people & their rights, their responsibilities & accountabilities. These are revealed & upheld through the rule of law & human rights. Our country is inhabited by different & diverse peoples, there are various faiths, cultures, customs, ethnicities etc. Therefore expanding the concept of democracy well beyond what we had, working for the rule of law for all, ensuring human rights for all, making a society with a strong foundation of democratic engagement is the only way to protect civil society, ethnic groups & the people.” — anon

I believe that the NUG is the best chance to beat the Junta but to succeed it needs to build trust with all communities & stakeholders, that requires accountability & inclusion in a genuine way.

The approach shown by the deputy minister on paper looks & sounds good. The values outlined are key.
The fear maybe is that while on paper it seems good, the outworking of the 8 steps so far taken has not been anywhere near inclusive enough. Voices have been excluded. Some of the voices that have been in the room have been side-lined.

I am aware of what the minister of commerce has said in the past & that those words, that racism still exists in the NUG. And the excuse we just heard was frankly bullshit, in fact a CLEAR EXAMPLE of not taking responsibility of the words or actions of the past properly. The reactions in the chat are a testament to that.
Its not just the minister there are others, whose actions as well as words in the past give not just the Rohingya but also other ethnicities pause, It undermines the call for unity. It also make potential allies both inside & outside Myanmar hesitant because the spectre of the past looms large.

And I’m honestly shocked at the weakness of the “sanctions” outlined in the ministers presentation on security accountability. That isn’t justice or accountability, those aren’t deterrents against abuse

The few words of regret that have been spoken often in passing & maybe without care weigh little in comparison with what came before. Because actions have not followed.

Therefore it is important that mistakes & harms from the past are addressed, apologies made, actions to ensure inclusion (that are genuine & tangible), that voices are heard in the shaping of what is being built happen. This will build trust, ensure that the coalition against the Junta is strong & that the future can be better…

And that is vital, all the peoples of Myanmar need the NUG to be not just “not the Junta” but actually to be transformative, bold in its inclusiveness, to build trust, heal the wounds of the past across numerous contexts. This is the hope of so many ppl that I have spoken to. The hope that the NUG will become this…

The desire for true grassroots transformation is strong with many of the activists & groups on the ground, a system that serves the people & takes care of their needs. Yes the Junta need removing root & branch, that has to happen but that is the start, not the end.

Because the hope, the desire the goal is for a better Myanmar one where opportunity is for all, where children can go to school without fear, where it doesn’t matter if you were born Chin, Kachin, Shan, Karen, Bamar, Kayah, Rohingya, Mon, Arakanese or any of the other ethnicities, where it doesn’t matter what religion you are, your gender, sexuality or social-economic status all treated equal.

Where the knock on the door is that of a neighbour not that of security forces or other threat. Where the rights of all are defended. Where the economy doesn’t leave people scrapping for a living when bosses get fat. Where people have a real say in how they are governed at all levels.

Like that’s the goal right? A Myanmar that meets the needs of all its peoples in all their glorious diversity. And if that is the goal I got to ask why aren’t you acting like it is? Why are groups still excluded, when they have asked to have a seat at the table?

And I recognise that there are many priorities, but the foundations laid down now will impact the future. This is the time to truely address some of these issues so that they don’t poison the future.

I’ve come to love & cherish my friends in Myanmar & truly want the best for them. And to get back on topic…

It is through the civil society groups, the strike committees, the unions, the EROs (armed & civil wings), the PDFs, the community support networks and many others both inside & outside the country that has sustained the revolution thus far. They are the ones that will know the specific policies and structures that will be needed… they must be listened to.

So when looking at what is needed in a federal democratic Myanmar it is the mechanisms to ensure that these groups have a voice. From workplaces, communities, townships all the way up to whatever state & federal government looks like. That people have a say, that these groups are allowed to flourish under the systems implemented. That power is not tightly held by any elite or single group but devolved in many ways all the way down to the grass roots.

And yes the NUG has played a pivotal & leading role in drawing together the resistance coalition, which is why it is so important that it becomes worthy of the hopes & dreams of all the people. There can be no greed for power, there can be no groups left out, the old hierarchies need to be dismantled.

Otherwise the fear is that even if the Junta is overthrown, the struggles will continue.

/ends

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Thank you to Altsean-Burma for the invite. The crew that did all the technical stuff to make the panel work & the translator. Also thanks to the other panellists: Yasmin Ullah (Rohingya feminist and human rights activist), Khun Baham Htan (NUG minister for Human rights), Thet Swe Win (Synergy) & Maw The Mar (NUCC member and Technical Support Person of Karenni State Constitution Drafting Committee (KnSCDC) ) whose inputs & points were really soild.

Also thanks to Khin Ma Ma Myo for being on the panel while I was unimpressed (understatement), word is that she listened to the criticism levelled and is considering it carefully. I guess we will see what comes of that.

Also thank you to all the people who spoke to me about the topic (at fairly short notice in advance) I hope I reflected your thoughts on the matter fairly. Also appreciate the help from 2 absolutely amazing activists who reviewed my initial notes. (You know who you are).