The fake "politics" of the military regime

The Peace Offer of Terrorist Military Regime and the Responses

The terrorist military junta issued a statement on September 26 offering the Ethnic Resistance Organizations (EROs) and the People's Defense Forces (PDFs) to solve political problems politically. This is the second such offer since the terrorist coup d'état on February 1, 2021, and the first being made in April 2022 by the leader of the terrorist junta, himself on television. The difference is that the offer was made this time when military camps and military headquarters of the military regime including the cities were being surrendered because of the operations of EROs and PDF.

In the offer of the military regime, it is stated that the use of armed struggle in the form of violence was a serious obstacle to the stability and development of the country, and it is stated that the EROs and PDFs groups could give up the path of armed struggle and communicate with them to solve the political problem through political means either through party politics or through the election.

It is also stated that the preparations for the elections were being carried out vigorously and starting from October 1st, the census which would facilitate the accuracy of the voting list would be started, and it was already underway in some of the areas that they have full control over.

Airstrikes and the Peace Offer

In the early morning of September 27th, the day after the terrorist group offered peace, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) announced that at least 15 aerial bombs had been dropped on the city of Lashio, which is under the control of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA). At 3:30 a.m. that day, the terrorist military group bombed the city market in Ward (1) and Ward (2) of Lashio City from the air, and on the night of September 28, they bombed Ward (8) of Lashio City again with jets. In addition, in the early morning and evening of September 30th, aerial bombardment was again carried out in Lasho City. During these aerial attacks, there were civilian casualties  and injuries, as well as damage to civilian buildings.

Accusations Targeting the National Unity Government (NUG) Before the Offer

On the night of September 25, the terrorist military junta issued three consecutive statements on China. In those statements, it is alleged that the National Unity Government (NUG) receives around 200 million US dollars annually from the US government, and the MNDAA (Kokang) and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) were accused of forming a military alliance with the NUG and attacking the Myanmar government.

The Responses of NUG

In response to the military's allegation of being funded, the National Unity Government (NUG) Foreign Minister, Daw Zin Mar Aung denied any involvement in the allegations.

NUG spokesperson U Kyaw Zaw responded that the peace offer made a day after the terrorist juntas accusations was a "fake offer". Foreign Minister Daw Zin Mar Aung said, "This statement only affects his interests. Doing what I say is not solving politics by political means,"she said in an interview with the BBC.

U Maung Maung Swe, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Defense of the NUG, responded, "It is a very funny and very disgusting statement that the terrorist SAC, which carried out a violent coup d'état at gunpoint, has now issued a statement calling for a political party to form a party."

In addition, on October 1, the NUG and the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) issued a joint statement stating that the terrorist group's peace offer was only a sham invitation. ,

The Response of the Karenni State Interim Executive Council (IEC)

The Karenni State Interim Executive Council (IEC) stated on September 28 that it would not accept the invitation of the illegal military regime as it was seen as a political exploitation that would create more problems than a solution to the current political crisis. In addition, it urged “Other states and federal units to continue standing in harmony with the will of the people."

The Response of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA)

The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), information officer, Lway Yay Oo responded that the “SAC told us to surrender, and to enter the elections after holding a peace dialogue is impossible for us."  In an interview with BBC News, she also denied the military regime's allegation about receiving US support

In an interview with The Irrawaddy news agency, Lway Yay Oo spoke about the peace offer, saying “The fact is that the PDF and ethnic armed groups will not have to give up their weapons, only the military council must lay down its arms. Because he relies on weapons and bombards people every day. That's why this invitation, this statement is not appropriate for us and also for other revolutionary armed forces”.

The Response of the Karen National Union (KNU)

Karen National Union (KNU) spokesperson Padoh Saw Taw Nee said, "The military must leave politics. It must be under civilian rule and must accept the drafting of the constitution that is necessary for the federal union," he replied, adding, "The terrorist Min Aung Hlaing's invitation to solve the political problem is just an unreadable old record, and there is no discussion without receiving 3 points, including action against any crime committed by the military."

The Response of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO)

The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) Vice President Lt. Gen. Gun Maw posted on his social media page, that “The terrorist SAC invitation of ethnic armed organizations and PDF to lay down their weapons and to solve the political problem through the political process, through the election process needs the technique of invitation”.

The Response of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP)

The Secretary -2 of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), U Aung San Myint responded“We could not go to the politics we wanted through 2008 (constitution). What we want to do is build a federal democratic union that guarantees ethnic equality and self-determination. From 2008 onwards, it is as if we are encouraging the military to interfere in politics after making the military's power sustainable. Today, to build a new state in our country, we must remove the military from politics”.

The Response of the Chin National Front (CNF)

The Chin National Front (CNF) spokesman Salai Htet Ni said, "Mainly, he is deceiving the people and the international community for his long-term position in Burmese politics. Therefore, under the 2008 constitution, all activities of the Military Council, any activity outside of the 2008 constitution is unacceptable. There is no reason for it to happen in reality. In Chin Land, when 80 percent out of 100 areas e are ruling by people’s ruling by themselves, the military council can only work with a small number of people in some of its towns, so there is no reason to accept this.I just want to say that they are deceiving the international community," he replied.

The Response of the Mon State Federal Council (MSFC)

The Mon State Federal Council (MSFC) announced on September 29 that “The terrorist group's invitation to dialogue is a political ploy and they are trying to hold a dialogue at the same time as they are preparing to hold a fake election. However, there are also airstrikes targeting civilians, which is a dishonest act”.

MSFC is ready to welcome and support any political discussion that leads to the abolition of the 2008 constitution, which is the pillar of military power, and the construction of a federal democratic union. He said that he would not consider participating in the dialogue, which was created as a political trick of the ruling group. The statement also stated that they would work together with revolutionary organizations to build a federal democratic union.

The Responses of the Spring Revolution Forces

Maung Saung Kha, commander of the Bamar People's Liberation Army (BPLA), responded bluntly, saying, "There can be no justice and no peace under the 2008 constitution, so we are not interested in the military council's offer."

A member of the Chief of Staff of People's Defense Force – Mandalay (MDY -PDF), Dr. Soe Thu Zaw, responded, "The military must leave politics completely. Justice must be restored for war crimes committed by the military. If this can be accepted, it will become a conversation”.

"Even before the word PDF, it is still used as terrorism. I think it's an offer that wants to follow its exit rather than an offer that wants to end the conflicts in the country," said Ko Zeya Lwin, the officer in charge of the 96 soldiers - PDF unit, expressing his opinion on the military group's offer.

Ko Nway Oo from the Civilian Defense and Security Organization of Myaung (CDSOM)  responded, "Since things like this are happening only because there is a military council, we believe that no PDF will choose the way to keep this military council alive."

Ko Min Han, a member of the Central Committee of the Student Armed Force (SAF) commented on the military group’s offer “They also know that they cannot invite the groups that are fighting with a strong position in the revolution. I see that they want to invite the neutral groups that are not from this side and from that side.”

The Response of the Political Parties

U Aung Moe Zaw, Chairman of the Democratic Party For a New Society (DPNS), said, "We are trying to find some political way out of the election. I also understand that the main thing is that they are trying to destroy the revolutionary forces”. And the Party’s Joint Secretary, Daw Hnin Hnin Mae also responded that  “There is no statement about the military dictator will completely withdraw from the political platform and will go back to its place, which is the demand from the 2021 Spring Revolution,  meaning that the military will continue to lead the country's political landscape. There is no reason to believe that we need to give up our weapons and must lay down arms, and to participate in the political scene, one must join a political party. Almost 100 percent of what the military says is not from the heart. I think they are looking for a way out of their current crisis”.

The 26 political parties registered with the Union Election Commission, including the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which was formed with the support of the former junta, issued a joint statement that they fully support the terrorist group's offer to solve the political problem through political means.

It is inappropriate to call a violent coup against a civilian government a "political problem". In addition to this, the military is allowed to commit systematic violence that is not free and fair in any way. The attempt to bring war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocides under a political framework that allows them to escape as a "political method" is just an attempt by a terrorist group to deceive the international community. It can be seen in the responses that it is not easy to mobilize the revolutionary forces in the country.