FROM THE DVB NEWSROOM

The National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) and the National Unity Government (NUG) issued a joint statement on Jan. 1 announcing that preparations are underway to establish a transitional constitution for Myanmar. 

“We would like to let the Myanmar people and the international community know that we are carefully trying to gain trust and unity in order to build a federal democratic union that ensures equality, justice and self-determination,” said Kyaw Zaw, the NUG spokesperson.  

It will be holding negotiations with resistance groups nationwide to develop a new political framework to replace the military-drafted 2008 constitution. 

The NUG and NUCC praised the success of Operation 1027 in northern Shan State launched on Oct. 27 by the Brotherhood Alliance, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and the Arakan Army (AA). 

It also mentioned the offensive led by Karenni resistance forces on Nov. 11, the Karenni Army (KA) and the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF), to take Loikaw. If successful, it would be the first state capital to fall under resistance control. 

Twenty-one towns in Kachin, Karenni, Shan, Chin and Sagaing have been seized by resistance forces in the last two months.

The People’s Defense Force (PDF) under the command of the NUG Ministry of Defense arrested 15 members of the Burma National Revolutionary Army (BNRA) – a 3,000-member resistance group founded by Bo Nagar in Pale, Sagaing on Sept. 9, 2023.

The BRNA members are accused of not participating in military operations in Kanbalu and Kawlin along with the PDF. 

Kawlin was the first district level town to come under NUG administration since it was seized by the PDF with the assistance of Chin resistance forces and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in November.

In Chin State, the Chin National Front (CNF) established the Chinland Council in December. It adopted the Chinland Constitution, which has become the first locally-drafted constitution in Chin history. 

It states that the Chin National Army (CNA) is the only armed force representing the Chin people, which means all resistance forces must come under the direct command of its Ministry of Defense. 

The Chin National Organization, the Zomi Federal Union, and the Chin National Council Mindat claimed that the Chinland Constitution failed to conform to democratic standards.