NUG appeals to the Thai government to help Burmese refugees
On April 21, the National Unity Government (NUG) sent a letter of request to the Thai government asking for assistance, as more Myanmar refugees are expected to flee to Thailand because of fighting between revolutionary forces and the terrorist junta in and around Myawaddy, a Thai–Myanmar border trade town, where the junta is also targeting civilians.
The letter from the NUG Ministry of Foreign Affairs said thousands of Myanmar refugees are fleeing to Mae Sot and other areas in Tak Province, Thailand, and that the junta continues to target civilians, so the number of refugees will keep growing. It requested that Thai authorities provide humanitarian assistance and support for those needing emergency shelter.
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A House Built on Sand – The Junta's Election Plan
Gerrymandering means grouping or spreading out areas of assured support so that the outcome a party needs can be shaped as desired. For the junta, it has already created conditions in which only its backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and a few supporting parties can contest and win, having dissolved major parties such as the National League for Democracy (NLD) and the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) amid a broad political boycott. In that situation, it needs to create the appearance that the election can be held widely.
Mandalay Region Interim Political Arrangement
The "Mandalay Region Interim Political Arrangement" (draft) has been written with 12 chapters and will soon be adopted. The draft has been officially released so that revolutionary political forces across the country, including Mandalay revolutionary forces and the public, can review it and send suggestions, and it is being further revised based on the suggestions received. Chapters 1 to 3 of the draft cover objectives, values and basic principles, and Chapter 4 covers fundamental rights, entitlements and duties. Chapters 5 to 10 cover the structure of the Mandalay region and its legislative, executive and judicial branches, Chapter 11 covers amendment of the arrangement, and Chapter 12 contains general provisions.
Introducing the Arrangement for Transitional Constitution (AFTA)
As the Spring Revolution has championed "ending military dictatorship and building a federal democratic union", discussions on the constitution have been taking place since February 2021. Revolutionary forces have rejected and opposed the 2008 Constitution, controversially adopted under military dictatorship, and revolutionary organizations have declared it void. During the revolution, Parts 1 and 2 of the Federal Democracy Charter have been issued and used as a constitutional framework. The roadmap set out in the charter also includes, as one of its stages, drafting a constitution for the post-revolutionary transition period during the revolution itself.
ASEAN, the UN and International Engagement on Myanmar in October
October was a period when Myanmar's affairs were once again discussed on the world political stage, with the ASEAN Summit and the UN General Assembly. Below is a summary report of international developments on Myanmar during October.