Introduction

The military junta’s invitation to the resistance forces, which are determined to end the military dictatorship, to disarm and enter the path of party politics and elections, clearly demonstrates the junta’s wishful thinking. From their call to resolve political issues through political means, the junta still seems to believe that its attempt to maintain power is justified, while viewing the actions of the resistance forces opposing this attempt as misguided.

This week, the Burma News International (BNI)-Myanmar Peace Monitor’s Weekly News Review examines the junta’s disarmament offer and the responses from the resistance forces.

The Disarmament Offer

The junta’s “invitation to resolve political issues through political means” 1 issued on 26 September 2024 contains three points, with Point (1) stating that its ongoing attempt to seize power is in accordance with the 2008 Constitution.

The Point (2) states that the junta is working towards holding a general election in accordance with its five-point roadmap and intends to hand over power to the resulting government, armed resistance by the opposition forces has hindered the country’s stability and development.

Point (3) mentions that the resistance forces are invited to abandon the armed struggle and resolve the political issues through political means, specifically through party politics and the electoral process.

(These three points summarize the key aspects of the junta’s announcement, omitting original phrases that are not conducive to peace and avoiding one-sided accusations.)

Over three years since the military coup, the junta has cracked down on opposition civilians with arrests, torture and killings, as well as daily airstrikes across the country and the destruction of civilians’ homes by fire. None of these actions are mentioned in the disarmament offer with a single word.

Resistance’s Stance On The Sham Offer

The National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) and the National Unity Government (NUG) were quick to call the military junta’s offer as a “sham invitation”. They stated on 1 October that it was an attempt by the junta to divide revolutionary groups, including the Ethnic Revolutionary Organizations (EROs) and the People’s Defense Forces/Local Defense Forces (PDFs-LDFs), and urged revolutionary forces to be highly vigilant against this divisive tactic of the junta.

The NUCC and the NUG jointly announced that they will completely reject any political path that the military junta attempts to take, including the junta’s attempts at census-taking and elections based on the 2008 Constitution, and that they will oppose and dismantle any elections held under such circumstances. 2

Padoh Saw Taw Nee, a spokesperson for the Karen National Union (KNU), also said that the junta’s invitation was merely an attempt to prolong the military dictatorship itself. He mentioned that the door is open for immediate dialogue if the military council accepts the three positions jointly announced by the resistance forces – “the military must abandon politics and serve under a future civilian government, to accept a constitution for a federal union, and take responsibility for war crimes committed against civilians.” 3

Lway Yay Oo, spokesperson of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), which was declared a terrorist organization by the junta on 2 September, said that, for any considerations of talks, the junta must withdraw its designation of them as a terrorist organization. Furthermore, they must also admit the acts of terrorism and crimes it has committed. 4

Review

Since 1 October, the military junta has begun conducting a census in towns, villages, and wards under its control. In the meantime, it continues daily airstrikes on territories controlled by the resistance forces, such as Lashio.

At the same time, the junta appears determined to hold elections by any means possible during its coup, seeking the support of pro-military political parties, religious organizations and associations. In addition, the junta appears to be hoping for international recognition by leveraging the backing of the Chinese government, which supports its five-point agenda 5 , including the holding of elections.

Looking at the junta’s disarmament offer, it is evident that it has excluded the National Unity Government (NUG) and only addressed the Ethnic Revolutionary Organizations (EROs) and People’s Defense Forces-Local Defense Forces (PDF-LDFs). The junta’s invitation thus can be seen as an attempt to drive a wedge between the NUG and the resistance forces, including EROs, which are committed to ending the military dictatorship and building a federal democratic union.

As the revolution drags on, it is increasingly necessary for the resistance forces, including the NUG, to strengthen their political consensus and military alliances. This is crucial for enhancing their collective strength and cooperation.

Therefore, the junta’s disarmament offer can be seen as a test to undermine the collaboration, unity, and shared stance among the resistance forces.

1 Invitation to resolve political issues through political means, Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services, 26 September 2024
2 Anti-Illegal Sham Elections Joint Working Committee’s statement on terrorist junta’s sham invitation, 1 October 2024
3 Military council’s invitation ‘not convincing’, KIC, 27 September 2024
4 Revolutionary forces reject junta’s peace offer, RFA, 27 September 2024
5 Five-point roadmap of State Administration Council, NPE, 31 August 2024