CNI News

26 June 2025

There are considerations among military and political analysts about what kind of system a federal democratic union should be that would guarantee and encompass all ethnic groups in Myanmar.

The Myanmar Tatmadaw has said that Myanmar should be a country based on geography, not ethnicity, and that states should be named geographically, not ethnically, U Khun Sai, who is involved in the peace process, told CNI News.

However, he said that the ethnic groups do not accept the idea of erasing their ethnic names while not receiving any ethnic rights. 

The leaders who govern the country must be aware that ethnic groups are being oppressed and are worried that their ethnicity will disappear. They must provide ethnic rights first and then take action step by step.

While seeing those who were demanding to build the federal democratic union

“What was previously called Burma is now called Myanmar, and Myanmar is an all encompassing term. Most of us ethnic groups do not accept this either. We have to choose a name that the majority will accept,” said other ethnic leaders.  So if we want our country to be good, we cannot suddenly change it while ethnic groups are giving priority to their names. This is a matter that will have to be dealt with step by step. Currently, ethnic minorities are facing oppression and fear of disappearance of their nationalities. The leaders who govern our country must be aware of this. They can't do what they want right away. They have to do it step by step. They have to give ethnic rights. When ethnic groups achieve their rights, the issue of race will no longer be an important issue. At that time, not only race, but human rights will be there. Human rights will become even more important. When human rights become important, the issue of race will gradually disappear. That's what I believe." he said.

The SAC and the NUG have each stated that they will build a union based on federalism and democracy in the future, and they are organizing ethnic armed groups and political parties, but they have not stated exactly what kind of union they will build.

All ethnic groups and races must work together to establish a federal democratic union that ensures peaceful coexistence, said the Karen National Union (KNU) Chairman Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win  in his speech on the 76th anniversary celebration of the Kawthoolay Day on June 14.

Since  under the government of retired President U Thein Sein, there had been many discussions with ethnic groups and there were things that have been agreed upon, and through that, there were widespread demands, and there was no reason why any issue could not be negotiated at the table, Dr. Nyo Nyo Thin, founder of the Yangon Watch Group, told CNI News.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and leaders of ethnic groups

“Anyway, there is nothing that cannot be achieved if we sit around the table and negotiate. That is why it is very important for us to negotiate these issues at the table. So, we should come to the table. We should discuss. On the other hand, we should reduce tensions. Armed conflict is not the answer for this country. The answer for this country is to build a new state through discussions at round tables. So, I think that even if all the armed groups cannot lay down their arms for their own political goals, even if they cannot directly participate in the political tables themselves, they should form small groups on their behalf and discuss politically indirectly.” she said.

Some people point out that since Myanmar has many religions and ethnicities, it must go with federalism first and democracy should come after federalism. No matter how much democracy is given, the current political situation cannot be avoided without federalism. 

On the other hand, some people consider that only after efforts were made to achieve democracy, should attempts be made to achieve ethnic rights.

There were scraps of historical evidence why the Soviet Union collapsed because of complications between democracy and federalism. Currently, there are political conflicts in the US because of complications between democracy and federalism, some people pointed out.