Myanmar Spring Chronicle – September 27
(MoeMaKa) September 28, 2024
Despite Calls for Political Dialogue, Airstrikes Continue
On September 26, the military council issued a call for resolving political issues through political means, inviting political parties to choose the path of party formation and electoral participation. However, at the same time, they continued their airstrikes on lost territories, military bases, and towns. In the early morning of September 27, around 3:30 to 4 a.m., the military junta bombed the northern Shan State’s Lashio, a territory they had lost control of. Bombs fell on the central market area and Ward No. 1, resulting in fatalities and damage to the city’s largest market, according to reports.
On that same day, an airstrike on a village in southern Rakhine State’s Toungup Township also led to civilian deaths. Similarly, during the night of September 25 into the early hours of September 26, the junta carried out airstrikes near Ho Ya village, close to fighting between the junta and MNDAA in northern Shan State’s Mongyaw Township, with reports of further casualties.
Despite the military council’s call for political dialogue ahead of the upcoming census for elections set to begin on October 1, the ongoing airstrikes and military attacks indicate a lack of genuine desire for peaceful resolution, making it evident that there is no true intention to resolve the crisis peacefully.
For the first time, the junta has extended an invitation for talks to the People’s Defense Forces (PDF), which they previously referred to as “terrorists,” despite earlier labeling them as insurgents unworthy of political negotiation. However, there is a noticeable omission of any reference to the National Unity Government (NUG), and the term “PDF” is used generally in the statement.
The junta’s mixed messaging, which brands some ethnic armed groups and PDFs as “terrorists” while also inviting them for political talks, reflects inconsistency. Throughout the past, the military council has declared that negotiations with terrorist organizations were unnecessary, referring to both PDFs and ethnic groups like the Arakan Army (AA), which were excluded from peace talks. It is ironic that just weeks after declaring three groups as terrorists, they now extend an invitation for political talks, further showcasing the inconsistency in their approach and undermining the authenticity of their intentions for dialogue.
No matter the rhetoric about political solutions, dialogue, or ceasefires, as long as one side continues to seek military dominance and secure political power through force, no true resolution will emerge.
**On another note,** September 27 marks the 36th anniversary of the founding of the National League for Democracy (NLD). The NLD, the victorious party in the 2020 election, has been under siege by the junta’s oppressive measures, with many of its members arrested, detained, and killed. Many members are now involved in the Spring Revolution, including in the NUG and other sectors, fighting to overthrow military rule. As the NLD continues to stand with the people during this armed revolutionary period, this 36th anniversary is recorded as a testament to its continued commitment to the people’s struggle.
One of the key leaders of the NLD and current NUG Foreign Minister, Daw Zin Mar Aung, expressed her unwavering dedication to the party and its members on her Facebook page during this period of resistance:
*“Amid the political turmoil, the years spent alongside the people have strengthened our resolve. As a party member, it is my responsibility to ensure that our beloved party’s dignity remains untarnished. This is my loyalty to the party and its leaders on this special occasion. When I was elected as a representative, I made a pledge to the voters to uphold their trust, to make sure they never regret choosing me. This is my duty. Today, I continue with that pledge, and with that loyalty.”*
The continued experience of political manipulation by the junta, the repeated establishment of political parties, the numerous elections held, the frequent coups, and the subsequent oppression, imprisonment, and killing of the people and political activists all serve as lessons for the people of Myanmar. Their collective political experience and maturity will be essential in the fight to free the country from the endless cycle of dictatorship.