August 3rd, 2021
The transformation of the military council into the caretaker government six months after the coup is just an attempt to get international recognition and hold onto power, said Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win, Vice-Chair of the Karen National Union (KNU).
“Although the military council forms the caretaker government, its members remain unchanged. The formation of the caretaker government is an attempt to get international recognition in order that the military council wants to show to the Myanmar people and the world that it is a legitimate government six months after the coup and can govern the country. The KNU’s stand remains unchanged. Whatever they do is only for their survival,” Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win added.
After the announcement on the formation of the caretaker government on August 1st, Chair of the State Administration Council (SAC) Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said he would take the role of the Prime Minister.
With regard to the coup leader’s speech about the peace such as the firm stand towards the NCA and the pledges for the building up a union based on democracy and federal system, Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win said: “We have walked the NCA path. He did not talk much about the establishment of the federal democratic union. In my view, the form remains unchanged. They are power-hungry people. They will use any means to make sure that power can be kept in their hands.”
In his address, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said it is to build the union based on democracy and the federal system peacefully. He also invited any ethnic armed groups to hold the dialogue, except for the armed organizations declared as ‘terrorist organizations’.
The KNU said that the military council’s words are unbelievable in building up a genuine federal union aspired by ethnics. Other ethnic organizations should be cautious about the military council’s words and undertakings.
The military council pledged to hold the election in 2022 at a time when the army staged a coup. But the coup leader said after the formation of the caretaker government, the election would be held only in 2023.
Political analyst Saw Kapi told the KIC: “To short, it is their basic thought that the army wants to hold onto the country’s power for many years and to get the term ‘government’ from the public and international community whether it is recognized or not. No need to seriously take his words about the peace process as it is just for their existence and survival.
There is a lot of criticism over the change from the military council to the caretaker government. Most critics say that the formation of the caretaker government aims to ensure the existence of power and get recognition. The National Unity Government (NUG) yesterday declared the newly-formed caretaker government as an illegal association.
Sent by the KIC.