JAKARTA - The coup carried out by the Myanmar Military Junta on February 1 has received widespread criticism at home and abroad. The threat of sanctions up to termination of relations was conveyed by a number of countries, including the United States.
The return of civilian power, followed by the release of a number of Myanmar figures, including Myanmar Leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar President U Win Myint, as well as other figures became foreign requests. However, the Myanmar military has been indifferent so far.
However, when there was a threat from Myanmar's armed civilian groups to defend the people, the military immediately reacted and even expressed a willingness to have a dialogue. The threats came from the Karen National Union (KNU), the oldest and most influential armed ethnic group, and the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) based in Loi Tai Leng on the Thai border.
"Release all those detained unconditionally, as a sign of national reconciliation. Including government leaders and democracy activists. Solving all political problems peacefully through dialogue, exclaimed KNU, who is ready to defend the people of Myanmar, as reported by The Irrawaddy some time ago.
"We are against the coup. RCSS wants federalism and democratic norms. The overthrow of a democratically elected government is against democratic norms. We are against it, the coup destroys mutual trust and undermines the peace process, "said RCSS spokesman Major Kham San.
The Myanmar military also responded by holding a special meeting of the Peace Process Steering Committee (PPST) from the group that signed the Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in 2015.
"The Tatmadaw (military) said they would hold talks to achieve concrete peace with the signatories to the NCA. They said they would try to build as concrete peace as possible," said PPST spokesman who is also KNU Secretary General Padoh Saw Ta Doh Moo.
The NCA is signed by the Government of Myanmar with representatives of armed ethnic groups in Myanmar. A total of 10 civilian armed groups signed the NCA on 15 October 2015, out of a total of 15 ethnic groups invited by the Myanamar Government.
Those who signed were ABSDF, Arakan Liberation Party, Chin National Front, DKBA-5, KNU, KNU / KNLA Peace Council, Lahu Democratic Union, New Mon State Party, Pa-O National Liberation Army and RCSS.
So, what makes the Myanmar Military Junta 'afraid' and willing to negotiate with Myanmar's civilian armed groups?
After independence from Britain in 1948, political and ethnic armed rebellions in Myanmar occurred in various regions. The initial uprising was carried out by the KNU which was fighting to establish an independent Karen State from Myanmar.
In the 1960s, the government's refusal to consider a federal system led to one armed group uprising after another. At that time, Myanmar was controlled by the Myanmar military led by General Ne Win in a coup on March 2, 1962.
In the 1980s, although the politically based rebellions subsided, ethnic-based rebellions continued. And, these groups control the majority of the territory in Myanmar and the border.
The Myanmar military has repeatedly held ceasefires with armed civilian groups. Notable is the 1989 ceasefire spearheaded by Khin Nyunt who later became the Head of Military Intelligence.
As part of a way of suppressing armed civilian groups, the authorities started the Border Area Development Program in 1989 until it was upgraded to the Ministry of Border Territory Progress and National Race in 1992.
However, some clashes between the military and these groups continued. In 2009, the military authorities sent Lieutenant General Ye Myint to negotiate with armed groups on collective security issues under the leadership of the Myanmar military.
Until the end of Myanmar's military rule in 2011, followed by the start of Myanmar's democratic era, these groups were also involved in several clashes with the military.
A total of 36 ceasefire agreements were attempted by the Myanmar government, especially the military, from 1989 until the signing of the NCA in 2015.
Meanwhile, over the past five years under Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), the PPST and the government have held four rounds of United-level peace negotiations, called the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference, and signed 71 treaties.
"While the NCA's path may work for a ceasefire, it will not solve the civil war. (The armed groups) have been fighting for federalism, equality and self-determination. But federalism is not what they can ask of the military. The military is not a democratic institution, it is an organization governed by one blood, one vote and one command, "said political analyst U Than Soe Naing.
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