Guest Column
Protesters demonstrate against Myanmar’s military coup. / The Irrawaddy
2.6k
By Zaw Tuseng 9 July 2021
Myanmar is facing an unprecedented threefold tragedy: deadly violence, an out-of-control COVID-19 pandemic and economic collapse. The cost of saving lives will be enormous. The cost of containing COVID will be huge. The cost of fixing the economy will be massive.
The Myanmar military is the cause of these crises, and appears to have no intention of stabilizing them or preventing them from getting worse; this provides an opportunity for the National League for Democracy (NLD), the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and the National Unity Government (NUG) to work to realize collective leadership with ethnic leaders and civil society. Many ethnic groups have governance structures or authorities that have systems in place to address the immediate humanitarian crises. By collaborating with these ethnic leaders, they can deepen the coalition so that it can put forth a new and sustainable political settlement once the military is gone. International actors—both humanitarian organizations and development organizations—must work through these actors to fulfill their mandate and act responsibly amid the present situation. Ethnic governance bodies such as the Karen National Union’s health department, known as the KDHW, and education department, or KED, will want to continue to care for their communities—this is an expression of self-governance within a federal system. They do not want to be seen as a temporary solution; they are part of a long-term solution for Myanmar.