Key Points from the NUG–K2C Joint Press Conference

Date held - November 5, 2024

Purpose of the press conference - To explain to the public the political cooperation and developments since the Common Position of Groups Jointly Fighting to End Military Dictatorship and Build a Federal Democratic Union was announced on January 31, 2024.

Speakers at the press conference

   • Daw Zin Mar Aung, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Unity Government (NUG)

   • Padoh Ta Doh Moo, General Secretary, Karen National Union (KNU)

   • U Aung San Myint, Secretary 1, Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP)

   • Salai Htet Ni, Assistant General Secretary, Chin National Front (CNF)

Excerpts from the Discussion

1. NUG–K2C Cooperation

NUG - Because discussions reflecting the real situation needed to take place among allies, we reached a common political agreement on January 31. We have also cooperated on international advocacy, humanitarian aid and other public services. Through this joint press conference, we want to convey that we are working with our allies to find the basis on which to rebuild the unity and dignity of the country that was lost under successive military dictatorships.

CNF - Min Aung Hlaing has offered to resolve political problems through political means under the 2008 Constitution. Since today's political problems stem from the 2008 Constitution, this offer is meaningless. We signed the NCA, and based on that experience, after the 2021 coup we have been fighting together with the NUG, fellow EROs and local forces to uproot military dictatorship and build a federal democratic union.

2. Implementing Bottom-Up Federalism and Building Unity

KNPP - Although there is general agreement to build a federal union, the form of the federal system, the way the country will be built, and the way powers will be divided and exercised between the union and the states need to be clarified through definitions. A new union cannot be built through a federal system in which the centre delegates powers to the states, or a centre-based federal system (federalizing); that is a centralized system and could bring back dictatorship. Only through a bottom-up federalism approach, a federating or coming-together system, will the national equality, justice and self-determination that ethnic nationalities have demanded for more than 76 years be fully achieved.

At the in-person meeting of the KNU, KNPP, CNF and NUG held from August 26 to 28, it was also agreed to take a bottom-up federalism approach and to divide and exercise powers between NUG ministries and the executive and judicial bodies within the states/federal units. Since September 19, ethnic revolutionary organizations and state/ethnic representative councils have met repeatedly and issued a position statement on building the country through a bottom-up federalism approach.

The basic concepts of bottom-up federalism are: (a) the original owners of sovereignty are the states and the people living in them; (b) the states/federal units have justice, equality and self-determination; and (c) powers will be divided between the union and the states/federal units based on the principles of sovereignty, solidarity, subsidiarity and division of competencies. Bottom-up federalism is already included in the guiding principles for building a federal democratic union in Part 1, Chapter 4, Section 2 of the Charter (FDC), and the form of the union is also described in three points in Section 3, the basic policies for building a federal democratic union.

‍KNU - Bottom-up federalism: we are rebuilding the country through a federal approach that supports local self-governance and builds the union from the grassroots level up.

CNF - During the revolution, the Chin, together with representatives of the group elected in 2020 and Chin national and local groups, drafted and adopted the Chinland Constitution in 2023, formed the Chinland government and parliament, and have been able to build Chinland. This is the political essence of building a federal democratic union made up of states with democracy, national equality and full self-determination. The root of the political problem is the 2008 Constitution, which protects the interests of the military dictatorship.

3. Actions and Appeals Concerning the International Community and ASEAN

KNU - The international community is only watching what ASEAN does. We have a responsibility to find ways and make recommendations, as the five points of ASEAN cannot be implemented. To summarize the six common political goals that were announced: (1) remove the military coup and end the military's involvement in politics; (2) draft and enact a new federal democratic constitution; and (3) finally, achieve justice for those who suffered abuses during the conflict and carry out a transitional justice process. We see that three main points of ASEAN's Five-Point Consensus are proving difficult to implement.

(1) De-escalation of violence - The Myanmar military is escalating in the form of total war. Seventy-one percent of the country is affected by armed conflict, and air strikes and bombings are increasing. Our recommendation to ASEAN and the UN is that if they want the military council to de-escalate, they need to firmly point out what is required: stopping weapons from reaching the military council, not granting it diplomatic legitimacy, and cutting off its revenue streams to control its purchase of weapons.

(2) Providing humanitarian aid - In Myanmar, it is not only people under the military council who need humanitarian aid; many people under the control of EROs and the NUG also need it. Therefore, when aid is sent to those in need, there must be monitoring of whether it is delivered in line with humanitarian principles, along with accountable mechanisms. Otherwise, it will be creating opportunities for the SAC to exploit it politically. One point we want to make to the international community is that aid sent internationally without following humanitarian principles causes great hardship for displaced people under ethnic and NUG administration, so we call for the use of a parallel delivery system.

(3) Inclusive dialogue - Regarding inclusive dialogue, meetings and discussions are needed to reach a lasting, sustainable solution, which can only come from finding ways to political agreement and settlement. Therefore, inclusive dialogue first requires negotiating a "common" political goal in order to reach a sustainable solution. For that to happen, ASEAN, whether individually or collectively, needs to support and facilitate a dialogue process among revolutionary organizations that is owned and led by Myanmar's own stakeholders, that ensures there is no return to military dictatorship and centralized rule, that is in line with the wishes of the people, and that achieves common political goals. The election proposed by the SAC will only intensify the conflict and will not bring stability and peace.

4. Positions on China and the Myanmar Junta Leader's Visit to China

NUG - We sent a letter addressed to the Chinese Foreign Ministry requesting that it reconsider this invitation and engagement, saying it must not amount to recognizing the SAC. It would become an obstacle rather than a help to China–Myanmar relations, and an operation that favours the SAC. We received the response that this was not a state visit but attendance at a regional forum. There is cooperation between the NUG and ASEAN envoys. There are also joint and separate meetings with allies. As for pressure, those on the border know how to handle it. Although there is a channel for NUG–China relations, how much Beijing listens remains a challenge.

Responses from other political groups - Whatever pressure China applies, ethnic groups are withstanding it and moving forward. This is not something that can be treated with a quick fix; a sustainable solution must be found. That is what we are working toward.

5. Appeals

NUG - If we cannot seize the window of opportunity, we will go down in history as those who failed to take it. There are differences and divergent views, but our aspirations are the same. We will develop a new political culture and build a negotiated union. Only by ending the coup and changing the system will the country turn around and the system change. The commitment of each group is important, and so is unity.

KNU - Our message to the international community is that as long as the military, a corruptive environment, remains in power, there is no rule of law, and the consequences are producing non-traditional security threats. If the international community does not pay attention to this, it will be too late by the time it does, so efforts must be made to make UNSC Resolution 2669 function.

KNPP - The people's revolution that emerged in 2021 is unlike other revolutions. A great deal of pressure is already being applied, and if we further increase our unity and work in step, Min Aung Hlaing could fall the very next day. He is trying to find a political way out through elections and negotiations. All of this is in all of our hands.

CNF - Stakeholders must set the right strategy and tactics and act on them. Always remember the people's outcry when the coup began in 2021; it was born from that outcry and has grown to the armed stage we see today. There is nothing to hesitate about.

6. Main Topics Raised by the News Media

Journalists asked about the actions of allied groups, including the NUG, regarding the junta leader's visit to China; coordination with and responses from other revolutionary forces after the NUG and K2C issued their position; comments on how ethnic revolutionary forces are responding to China's pressure; and relations among forces conducting military operations in ERO territories and with newly emerging forces.