Myanmar’s 70th Independence Day: A Speech That Left Some People High‑Hugging and Others High‑Stressed
What the President Said (and What He Didn’t)
- President Htin Kyaw glided into the hall, celebrated Myanmar’s 70th Independence Day, and called for a “democratic federal republic”—all while keeping the military’s heavy hand out of the conversation.
- He dropped a few “nice” phrases about building a “suitable Constitution” and fighting for “human rights,” but he let the Rohingya disaster slip right past the podium.
- Little detail; big mystery. Why did he think the 2008 military draft was “unsuitable”? The article doesn’t spell it out, and the President—who’s basically a ceremonial figure—stayed in the shadows of the bigger political game.
Fast‑Facts: Why the 2008 Constitution is Thoseop’s Favorite Weapon
- It blocks Aung Suu Kyi from ever becoming president because she has a foreign spouse and two British‑born kids—the infamous “non‑Burmese” rule.
- The military blocks 25% of parliamentary seats and holds key ministries (defence, interior, borders). Think of it as a built‑in veto right to keep things as they are.
- Because of this, any constitutional change is basically a heavyweight federal “toss to the place”—the military’s got the ball, and they’re not known for handing it over politely.
Roadblocks, Reporters, and a Grim Reality
Myanmar emerged from 49 years of army rule in 2011, spun a banner election in 2015, and has been wading through a slow‑moving reform tide that sometimes looks more like a drift down on a rock. Meanwhile, press freedom has been under fire: two Reuters journalists were hauled off in December after clipping a U.S.‑military crackdown that sent 655,000 Rohingya across the border.
Here is a quick recap of the crisis peppered with a touch of power‑down humor:
- Rohingya: The Uninvited Guest – The people who have lived in Rakhine for generations but are treated like they suddenly flew in from Bangladesh.
- UN’s “Ethnic Cleansing” Label – The UN walked in and slapped the term “ethnic cleansing” on the Myanmar military’s actions. Myanmar’s answer? “We’re just doing legitimate clearance operations.”
- Insurgent Shakes – Kachin, Shan, and other minorities have fueled group clashes; in short, Myanmar’s got a smoldering hotspot of fight for autonomy that’s proving hard to damp.
Why Amending the Constitution Is a “Musical Chairs” Game
To rewrite the constitution you need a whopping 76% of a parliament that is replete with military allies. It’s like trying to move the source code of a 50‑year‑old computer system while the mainframe’s still on a high system hold.
Death, Disappointment, and a Tragedy That Remains Unsolved
The story of lawyer Ko Ni—who died last year—serves as a cautionary tale. He was a muslim legal mastermind who fought to reduce the military’s political role. Many activists fear he was targeted for exactly that, but no one really explains the why or the how, even though the assassin was caught on scene.
Bottom Line: The Voice of “All Ethnic Groups” and the Missing Rohingya Talk
For the first year of independence, Htin Kyaw’s speech sounded only a little like a “messy family dinner.” He touched on equality, self‑determination, and freedom, but somehow, 655,000 people’s plight was not mentioned, even as the world shouted for accountability.
Takeaway
- Myanmar’s future hinges on the military’s willingness to step back from political power.
- The “democratic federal republic” sounds nice, but real change requires a much bigger legislative share, like a friendless game of Monopoly where the “cops” hold most of the property.
- In the meantime, Rohingya refugees, journalists, and activists are left looking for a simpler path in a maze that seems to have grown because of the very people who once revered it.
