Nine opposition groups, including the Karen National Union (KNU), announced on 12 February that they are revising and drafting the Articles of Federal Transitional Arrangement (AFTA), which will be used during the transition period to a federal union.
The nine groups, comprising Ethnic Revolutionary Organizations (EROs) and ethnic/state representative committees, stated that they are amending the AFTA, which has constitutional-level impact, as they advance together toward a federal union following the principle of “strong states for a strong union.”
According to spokesperson Nan Moe Moe: “We haven’t completed much of the drafting yet. So far, we’ve only established how the administrative mechanism will be structured during the interim period. This could be described as the initial step of Bottom-up Federalism. We’re fighting the revolution on one front while drafting and revising on another.”
The statement clarified that the groups aim to rebuild using a Bottom-up Federalism approach intended to strengthen the units or states that will become federal union members. They will not accept a centralized federal system that strengthens central control.
The opposition groups assert that the centralized system practiced by successive governments for over 70 years since independence has not only failed to resolve existing political problems but has also caused cascading issues.
The nine organizations that issued the joint statement include: the Karen Naitonal Union (KNU), Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), Chin National Front (CNF), New Mon State Party-Anti Dictatorship (NMSP-AD), Karenni State Consultative Council (KSCC), Pa-O National Federal Council (PNFC), Mon State Federal Council (MSFC), Ta’ang Political Consultative Council (TPCC), and Women’s League of Burma (WLB).
The groups are reportedly conducting consultations and discussions with other revolutionary and political forces regarding the implementation of interim administrative mechanisms and the development of the law, working together in a joint effort.
During the four years since the military coup, revolutionary organizations opposing the military junta and working to eradicate the dictatorship system have been balancing offensive operations with administration, aiming to better control and defend their territories while establishing strong governance.
Among them, the KNU is working toward establishing Kawthoolei State in accordance with their existing constitution and policies, while improving administration in their controlled territories.
Similarly, in Karenni State, an Karenni State Interim Executive Council (IEC) was established in recent years to implement improved administrative models, according to the actions of the respective organizations.
Sent by KIC.