CNI Interview
18 November 2024
Even though the armed conflicts which arose shortly after Myanmar gained her independence has been over 70 years long, they still have been in full swing and so have political problems.
So, everyone is making an attempt to build a democracy based on federalism. However, some are asking a question why the federalism is important in order to resolve the armed and political conflicts.
In relation to the above-mentioned situations, CNI News interviewed chairman of the People's Party (PP) U Ko Ko Gyi.
While those who attended the Myjayang Conference in July 2016
CNI News ။ ။ What is the root cause of armed and political conflicts?
U Ko Ko Gyi ။ ။ Basically, it is the constitution crisis of our country. After the two tenures of the Hluttaw under the 2008 constitution, we found a lot of requirements and weaknesses in the constitution.
While trying to amend the constitution, we have reached the current situation. Basically it is the federalism and democracy problem. I see it's mainly a political problem.
CNI News ။ ။ If that's so, how can we end the root cause? As soon as the constitution is amended, can the armed and political conflicts end?
U Ko Ko Gyi ။ ။ We came back from India a few days ago after studying democracy and federalism there.
India gained her independence consecutively together with Myanmar. But India has been amending its constitution if necessary up to now. We had three constitutions that were void.
It's necessary to have good bases since the constitution is drafted. Whenever it's necessary to amend it, it must be amended. When the domestic armed conflicts are currently taking place, we need to carry out to make political means open."
When the Myanmar delegate went to India to study the constitution and federalism of India
CNI News ။ ။ If the constitution is to be amended, which sections should be amended for the first time. Which sections do you think make the conflicts take place?
U Ko Ko Gyi ။ ။ It's been very complicated now. So, we have to be going on big amendments and matters that must be carried out in the long run. For the time being, we need to amend the matters relating to equal rights, division of power, division of finance and division of profits gained from natural resources.
Another thing, it's necessary to arise elected village administrators. Again, the check and balance must be strong. For example, the election commission needs to be an independent organization and does the legal system. Moreover, we mainly need to attempt to reduce the corruptions, I think.
CNI News ။ ။ Some says that as soon as the federalism is used in Myanmar, political conflicts can be solved. What's your opinion about it?
U Ko Ko Gyi ။ ။ Federalism is essential. But military conflict contains matters in relation to politics and businesses related to military as well as interests cases. So, we need to tackle the problems relating to businesses while the basic political problem is being solved.
While Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and Chinese PM
CNI News ။ ။ They says federalism is the best for Myanmar. Why? What about U Ko Ko Gyi?
U Ko Ko Gyi ။ ။ Conflicts have been taking place in a row since Myanmar gained her independence because points and promises that are included in the Panglong Agreement could not implemented.
One is politically an ideological problem. At that moment, the armed movement of the Burma Communist Party was the biggest.
Later, ethnic armed groups emerged by reason of equal rights and federalism. And then, in 2021, armed groups related to democracy emerged. So, we have to solve the problems regarding democracy and federalism.
And a basic point of political problems is the livelihood of the public. Because the economic problem could not be solved, dissatisfactions and politically based problems have mixed, I think.
CNI News ။ ။ Why are there battles in some federal countries? For example, in Ethiopia, battles are breaking out again between the Ethiopian government and the Tigre People's Liberation Front. In India, there are separatist armed groups. Why do you think there are these things?
U Ko Ko Gyi ။ ။ If a political problem cannot be politically solved, it will lead to the military means. According to what we studied in India, there are about 2,000 races, 22 office languages, caste system and its problems and a wide gap between the rich and the poor.
But armed conflicts are very few because of Indian political leaders. Institutions there are strong. But all the political institutions have been destroyed in Myanmar since the 1962 coup d'état.
After the 8888 Uprising, political parties emerged again. But they haven't settled down. So, as long as military is strong, politics will still be weak. Only if the political framework can be widened, will the military framework be narrow.
While seeing leaders at the 8th Anniversary Celebration of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement
CNI News ။ ။ Some countries which are are unitary unions or communist countries without federal states are wealthy and stable, for example China and Russia. Why do you think that"
U Ko Ko Gyi ။ ။ One thing is related to timing. Mainly, it's related to rationalism and far-sightedness. We went to China as well. Although there is only one party in China, it has many small groups. Moreover, there are separate groups which are not communist.
First and foremost, there is the political stability. And leaders were able to push the country to reach on the path to development. We must beware of it, I think. If they tried to reform only when uprisings took place, it would be too late.
Chinese leaders were able to reform before the public blasted. They changed their economic system into market economy. Common farming system was changed into privately owned system.
But public demonstrations that contained many students took place. Although there were sorrowful suppressions, generally speaking, far-sightedness, rationalism and the ability to change of Chinese leaders are important.
CNI News ။ ။ As the last question, what do we need to do so as to end armed conflicts and the political conflict in Myanmar?
U Ko Ko Gyi ။ ။ If armed conflicts take place in a country, it's not just a domestic problem, foreign countries related to it will take part. So, when the armed conflicts are solved, illegal businesses and instigations of foreign countries will be experienced.
So, solution of the problem with armed means can't produce good results. First, we need to conduct reformations bravely within the country. On the other hand, foreign policies than can support the domestic peace and stability need to be laid down.
And informal political talks or secret discussions need to be held before official dialogues between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and armed groups currently waging battles, I think.
