The coup leader’s so-called caretaker government and its trend
July 3rd, 2021
The military council led by coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing was recently transformed into the caretaker government. The following are the views of the Karen CSOs and political analysts on the formation of the caretaker government.
Saw Kapi, political analyst
Their ambition is clear. They formally named it the military council known as “the State Administration Council”. It is called ‘military council’ as the majority of people do not recognize it. The formation of the caretaker government aims to get the name of ‘government’ rather than whether it is recognized or not. Another point is the coup is not intended for six months or one year. The army wants to control the power for many years. Now the army said it would hold onto power till at least August, 2023. The army’s first priority is to get recognition as a government. The second is the army will control the power till August, 2023. I think the army might do political reform or hold an election beyond 2023. Nothing will happen if there occur the forms the army does not want. In summary, their ambition is to control power for many years. The army wants to get the recognition of it as ‘a government’ whether or not it is recognized by the citizens or by the international community.
Naw K’nyaw Paw, General Secretary of Karen Women’s Organization
The army has changed the name from the SAC to a government organization as it has not got international recognition yet after the coup. The army has officially declared it. The army is to hold onto power citing that it needs to solve unrest created by the NLD party. The army capitalizes on it for political gain. The army is creating a plan that the people in Myanmar are accustomed to military rule in the eyes of the international community. The army is working to prolong its reign. This pattern will not come to an end like that in 2023. The army may extend it as necessary. Their patterns and procedures are not new. The army is doing old patterns. So, armed organizations need to be cautious about it and should not be deluded into it. They did not implement any pledges made to the EAOs. That’s why, the EAOs need to root out the military dictatorship in cooperation with the organizations working for democracy.
Naw Wah Khu Shee (Karen Peace Support Network)
At present, the military council is unable to operate its work as a government as most of the qualified civil servants have joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). Many PDF youth are undergoing training in the ethnic areas, and fighting against the army. This is happening in many parts of the country. The most important point is that the army is doing nothing about the prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic. It is found that the army is doing only for its existence. Nothing is found in their desires about the path towards the federal democracy system. What they are doing is only for their survival and the interests of a group of people. The army is not working for the interest of the public. It will be the biggest chance if revolution is made collectively in cooperation with the EAOs, at a time when the people across the country are revolutionizing the military dictatorship. Cooperation with the army at a time when all the people are making the revolution against it, may make the longevity of the army and will not bring anything for the armed revolution.
Sent by the KIC
