_ By Min Khin Kyaw 

I’d like to say to reshuffle than to change. Policy and intention must be changed certainly. Also should bring in more political figures and leaders into various roles.

The world has witnessed how dictatorship in Burma has survived: fear of the people to criticize politicians (or leaders) when necessary, fear if the leaders would suffer, fear if one’s action would backfire, fear…! Here the exile government has been without any democratic structure and this simply doesn’t impress the majority exiles. I wonder how the views of the international leaders, NGO, activists and supporter who know the exile government (NCGUB) very well that it doesn’t represent anything! And also it doesn’t have any effect to be significant to be accepted as a leading role of recent and current political events and developments. This needs a change. An exile government is a need but need to be working sufficiently. Sure it has its own reasons why it’s unable; yet this is not an excuse we should accept.

Let’s say it should become an interim organization for all groups – including the armed groups (if possible). However, all individual groups must be always independent although they must not go against the majority.

The exiles have been in various forms and doing in various ways but they lack practicing democracy directly related to Burma. The future needs training and experience. In 1990 election, people showed they could vote but they couldn’t use what they have done and even in exile, we haven’t got this yet. It’s true the NCGUB still represents but it must also offer democratic practices as it is in exile or in free world. It must show it is capable of sticking with democratic values: that it needs to structure itself as the majority or representing majority.

The role of this government is to organize all groups to sound and work in harmony or as one. Certainly this will lead to financial need to fulfil all these tasks. This black hole is a difficult task to all of us certainly, so I can’t suggest but leave it for experts.

On the other hand, it’s not appropriate to make NCGUB as organization then a government as it has declared in its title ‘government’. It needs also showing diversity within itself – this means it must bring in all concerned groups of the Burmese. It also needs to show being capable of making unity and future vision. The future of Burma must be drawn as quickly as possible.

And it must include representatives from all organizations who can contest elections and become PM or ministers – so it should also have a little cabinet like structure where all voices can be heard. Time to time, the PM and all other posts should be changed with newly elected representatives so internal election is also needed.

This body must become like a real exile government and the main task for it is to be able to represent all organizations and activists in exile.

A government is a governing body. Without mandate and support, it cannot have the needed authority. Support doesn’t come from nothing but from the mandate given by the people. And it makes a government to be legal or valid. In exile, an exile government must also seek this mandate and support.

This structure will then gain respect from international leaders and also might be able to influence their policies on Burma more than now.

As explained above: international view, democratic proof, capability of exile Burmese, etc, unless we show the world, we have democratic values as the free world has, we would be seen with doubtful eyes. If they cannot trust us, they wouldn’t put all effort for us. Even though we’re certain they trust some activists in exiles and important leaders like Daw Suu, Min Ko Naing, etc, they still need to see clear outline of the future Burma. If this is not the case, we still need this outline to be clear and practical so our future will become bright.

I believe they have tried to find leaders in exile to work with. I think they haven’t found satisfaction yet. I believe they have tested our ideological capability, our tendencies, our values, our visions, etc. Therefore, we must improve ourselves as soon as possible. And this is also important to ourselves and our future whether we want to impress the world thought it’s what we must do.

Constitution drafting for Federal Government can be materialized afterwards. And various constitutions of the indigenous ethnic groups can also be refined in harmony with one another.

We certainly need a best constitution. The future constitution must unite Burma and give all necessary guarantees for all indigenous populations that a prosperous co-existence of is possible and can last. And certainly, there will be more than one constitution but every indigenous ethnic will need their own too. This can lead to political complexity difficult to solve. But by our standing for one another as a nation, only this, we can produce answers and solutions for constitutional crises. Certainly there are values we can share. And also there are values which must be shared by all of us so that we can live side by side. We have to give and share and make this as our patriotic manner toward each others.

This body should remain even after the military junta fall, until the first elected government appears. During the first elections after the fall of military regime this body can act like an election committee.

Most importantly, this body must never become a government inside Burma.

Min Kyaw
http://aminor-amajor.blogspot.com/