“I have sensed the danger of an ‘elected dictatorship”

Thein Nyunt campaigning recently in Yangon. (PHOTO : Myanmar Now/Htet Khaung Lin)

Thein Nyunt, chairman of the New National Democracy Party, is a well-known MP in the Lower House of parliament. He was an elected candidate of Thinganggyun Township constituency, Yangon, in 1990 election, but the junta refused the honour the election results.

When his former party the National League for Democracy (NLD) boycotted 2010 General Election, he founded the National Democratic Force to contest the elections and won in Thinganggyun.

He then established the New National Democracy Party. In a recent interview with Myanmar Now, Thein Nyunt discussed his future plans, expectations for constitutional amendments and possible troubles for the NLD beyond the Nov. 8 elections. The following is an excerpt of his interview.

Q: Some people said you won a parliamentary seat in 2010 General Election because NLD did not contest. How can you win the seat in the upcoming election?

mmnowelectionads.jpg

Answer: (Aung San Suu Kyi) urged a ‘No Vote’ in the 2010 elections without NLD. But I won more than 50 percent of the vote in that election. In the upcoming elections, the NLD becomes my opponent. I trust on the voters in my constituency. And they also believe me as I promote their lives. They believe they will firmly support me.

Q: Online surveys have found that voters in Thingangyun Township will vote for the NLD.

A: I am doubtful about these surveys. People on ground have said to reporters they will vote for me as I have fulfilled many development programmes for them. Online surveys were systematically created to lobby for the NLD. I am confident myself. So I did not advertise myself in any media as we have limited finance. If you asked NLD supporters, they will reply their support to this party. But when you asked people from slum areas where I helped, you will know the result ahead of November 8 elections.

Q: What is your reason to contest the 2010 and 2015 elections?

A: We have already understood it is hard to amend 2008 State Constitution. So, I will try for democracy and human rights for the people through every possible means. A woman politician (Aung San Suu Kyi) said she urged the public not to cast their vote as her party did not contest the elections in 2010. This caused a blow to the opposition groups from the USDP. But due to clear decision of voters in Thinganggyun Township, I won in that election.
I could help these people inside or outside parliament through development programmes and rule of law. As I am satisfied with these works, I could leave politics now. But I have sensed the danger of an 'elected dictatorship.’ This is an undesirable situation for the country during the democratic transition period. It should be prevented in parliament. If everybody wants to become the President and wants to form a government, then the essence of democracy would be wiped out. Democracy is a system of diverse views and opinions. For a better democracy, a strong opposition group will be needed.

Q: Will you continue as an opposition if NLD wins in the elections?

A: I will remain as an opposition MP against the USDP or NLD, or even they create a coalition government. I will try to form an alliance of opposition groups which have a common stance on national reconciliation, democracy and human rights. To do so, we need to amend political party law.

Q: You used to be very active in parliament. But we have found a decline in your queries, proposals, submission of bills and discussions beginning late 2013. Why is it so?

A: I continuously submitted the problems and difficulties of people. But when I became better known, some jealous group tried to block my popularity in the parliament. During the earlier sessions of this parliament, about 70 percent of my questions were allowed to be presented to the parliament. Since the 7th regular session of the parliament, only 50 percent of my questions were agreed for discussion. So I changed my questions into a category of unstarred ones which are not publicly discussed in the parliament. On the other hand, the right of discussion on proposals depends on the speaker of parliament. For example, I submitted a proposal in the 4th regular session to allow formation of student unions. But the speaker did not agree it for discussion. Therefore, I focused on the bills which are unavoidably discussed in parliament.

Q: How will you cooperate with the NLD if it forms a government?

A: It is too late to discuss cooperation. Agreement for collaboration with either the ruling party or the opposition party has to be made ahead of elections. The NLD did not offer this, they have chosen ‘total eradication’ in politics. No matter if they could or could not form a government, they will face many political and economic problems. Whatever the result comes out in 2015 General Election, I will try to organize an allied group to nurture new generations who are not affiliated with the NLD or USDP, to create a pragmatic Myanmar political scenario.

Q: What will you do more to try and bring constitution amendments?

A: The 12th regular session of parliament that approved a plan to amend the State Constitution was just a boast. I do not want people to get their hopes up. So I will continue trying to ensure the respective rights for the people in line with the existing constitution. Constitution amendment is just concerned with national reconciliation, not with the parliament. If the nationwide peace can be granted, the military will focus on the charter amendment. The Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement has been signed on October by the eight ethnic armed groups. They will then hold dialogues on political frameworks, and discussions on the constitution amendment. This is a practical trend. But any campaign promise on constitution amendment is just a boast. Such politicians need to take responsibility for their promises.

Q: There are four favourites to become the next president. Who do you prefer?

A: I do not want to comment on all these four persons, but just two of them. I will not support the two persons (Shwe Mann and Aung San Suu Kyi) who said they want to become a president two years ago. Myanmar’s constitution is not like that of the United States. Without digesting Myanmar’s Constitution, they should not say their desire to become the state’s president. The Lower House (Pyithu Hluttaw), the Upper House (Amyotha Hluttaw), and the military representatives will elect a presidential candidate each. Out of these presidential candidates, only one will be elected for the state’s president. I will never vote for such greedy persons to become the state’s president before passing these steps.

Q: What are your plans beyond the 2015 election?

A: A strong opposition groups will be needed in the parliament whether USDP or NLD forms a government. I will stand for this. I have said since 2010 that I am not thirsty for power, that is why I have remained as an opposition force in the parliament until now.

Donate

Independent media is under attack in Myanmar... help us hold the powerful to account.

Donate Now

One person dead in crackdown to help captured informant

The fatal shooting came as locals in Sagaing region were punishing a man believed to be informing on protesters

Myanmar Now

Published on Mar 17, 2021

Kyaw Min Tun, 41, was killed on March 16 after police opened fire on protesters in a bid to rescue a suspected informant. (Supplied)

An anti-coup protester was killed in Kawlin, Sagaing region, on Tuesday after police fired on a group of people who had detained a man suspected of acting as a regime informant.

Kyaw Min Tun, 41, was shot and killed after about 50 police arrived to rescue the suspected informant.

“The snitch was taking photos and calling the military to give them information. A woman overheard his phone call,” a Kawlin resident told Myanmar Now.

“Everyone surrounded and captured him. While they were shaving his head, the police showed up and started shooting at the crowd. A person was shot and killed,” the local added.

The person alleged to be an informant was identified as Chit Ngwe, a member of the Kawlin District Military Council. He was reportedly making a phone call at the time of his capture.

Witnesses said that police offered no warning before they started shooting.

Kyaw Min Tun was shot in the side and died immediately, witnesses said. The native of Min Ywa, a village in Kawlin township, had arrived in Kawlin in the morning to join an anti-coup march.

A young protester was also arrested during the incident, local residents said.

When local people started showing up in front of the Kawlin police station to demand the release of the arrested protester, a combined force of soldiers and police cracked down again.

Two civilians were injured in the process, residents said.

Myanmar Now

Myanmar Now is an independent news service providing free, accurate and unbiased news to the people of Myanmar in Burmese and English.

Donate

Independent media is under attack in Myanmar... help us hold the powerful to account.

Donate Now

Myanmar military, not EAOs, only terrorist organisation in Myanmar, CRPH says

The committee of elected lawmakers removes the ‘terrorist’ and ‘unlawful’ designations once used against ethnic armed organisations

Myanmar Now

Published on Mar 17, 2021

A committee representing elected lawmakers-- who have been unable to take their seats in parliament following the February 1 coup in Myanmar-- announced the removal of all ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) from the country’s list of terrorist groups and unlawful associations on Wednesday.

The Committee Representing the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) issued a statement condemning all arrests and detentions under Section 17(1) of Myanmar’s Unlawful Associations Act, which prescribes up to three years in prison for affiliation with an “unlawful association.” The CRPH said that it considers the Section 17(1) arrests and charges leveraged against EAOs fighting for national equality and self-determination illegitimate.

The CRPH “expresse[d] its profound gratitude” to EAOs that have provided “care and protection” to civil servants participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) in opposition to the military junta. The committee recognised and congratulated these EAOs for their “strong commitment to the building of [a] federal democratic union.”

In the wake of violent crackdowns by the junta’s armed forces on anti-coup protesters nationwide, the CRPH labelled the Myanmar army a terrorist organisation on March 1.

Of the more than 20 ethnic armed groups in Myanmar, 10, including the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) have signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with the previous National League for Democracy government and the military.

Affiliation with EAOs not signatory to the NCA, such as those in the Northern Alliance, has led to charges under Section 17(1). These cases have been disproportionately brought against civilians belonging to ethnic nationalities.

The military coup council announced on March 11 that it would remove the Arakan Army, a Northern Alliance member with which it had been engaging in intensifying clashes for nearly two years in Rakhine State, from its list of terrorist groups.

No other EAOs were removed from the list.

The military continues to engage in ongoing clashes with EAOs in Kachin and northern Shan State, including the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), another Northern Alliance member. In Karen State and Bago Region, the junta’s armed forces have been fighting with NCA signatory the KNU.

While the KIA has not commented directly on the coup, in a February 10 statement it said it would protect the people’s anti-military movement if the armed forces violently suppressed it.

The KNU has also said it would protect protesters, and has provided asylum for police officers who joined the CDM.

The RCSS/SSA issued a statement condemning the military coup, and has offered to protect civil servants participating in the CDM.

The 10 NCA-signatory EAOs announced on February 20 that they would suspend the peace process, and on March 11 they held an online meeting to discuss ways to stop the killing of civilians by the military council.

On March 5, the CRPH called for the military-drafted 2008 Constitution to be abolished and a federal, democratic Constitution to be established. Ten days later, the CRPH issued a law protecting the public’s right to defend themselves from the military’s violent crackdown on protesters with the aim of establishing a federal army.

Myanmar Now

Myanmar Now is an independent news service providing free, accurate and unbiased news to the people of Myanmar in Burmese and English.

Donate

Independent media is under attack in Myanmar... help us hold the powerful to account.

Donate Now

At least six killed after factory owner calls in military in Hlaing Tharyar

Police publicly executed a woman who was the leader of the workers

Myanmar Now

Published on Mar 17, 2021

The site of a protest in Hlaing Tharyar that saw an intense face off between the protesters and the junta’s armed forces on March 14 (Supplied)

At least six people were killed on Tuesday following a wage dispute at a Chinese-owned shoe factory in Yangon’s Hlaing Tharyar Township after the owner called in the junta’s armed forces.

The workers had gone to the Xing Jia factory in Industrial Zone (1) to collect their wages, but conflict arose when they were not given the full payment they were owed, according to a Hlaing Tharyar resident from Daing Su ward who was familiar with the incident.

The owner, a Chinese national, then called the military and police, according to local sources.

“The soldiers and police came into the factory and surrounded it. The police slapped a girl who was the leader of the workers. When she hit back, they shot her,” the Hlaing Tharyar local told Myanmar Now.

The troops and police then arrested around 70 workers and loaded them onto two prisoner transport trucks. When people gathered to demand their release, the armed forces opened fire into the crowd, killing five more people, all men.

“The confrontation at the factory happened in the morning. When we gathered and went to demand the release of the arrested workers, it was about 2:30 in the afternoon,” the Hlaing Tharyar local said.

“They used live ammunition to shoot us. We all had to run, but five were killed. We couldn’t bring their bodies back, so we had to drag them away and put them in ditches.”

They were able to recover the body of one fallen worker at 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, and some of the remaining bodies by 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday.

“We had to hide all night. There were six dead, we got four bodies back. They’re being kept at a Buddhist hall in the ward. We can’t take back two of the bodies, that of the girl shot in the factory and another man,” the local said.

At the time of reporting, he said he was on the run, along with 17 others, after being reported by another local for leading the protest. That individual is now also reportedly in hiding.

Injured protesters are being treated at Pun Hlaing hospital.

Myanmar Now is still gathering further information about the incident, and other reports of new fatal crackdowns in Hlaing Tharyar.

An official at the Hlaing Tharyar hospital said that no bodies or injured persons had been sent there on March 16 or 17.

“No one came in last night. The hospital is not far from places like Aung Zeya bridge or Mee Kwat market, so we’d know if there were something happening. The streets were relatively calm in the morning today,” another doctor from the same hospital said.

A local aid group reported that shots had been fired in Yay Oak Kan ward in Hlaing Tharyar, but further details were not known at the time of reporting.