Just as the word "democracy" was very popular with the Burmese in the late 1980s and 1990s, another word "federal" has become increasingly popularized following the recent coup in Myanmar. To be sure, the Burmese public seems to be showing that they are ready to concede many things at present, ranging from R2P and federalism to IIMM and ICC, but to what extent are these their real wishes--and concessions, for that matter?
A popular saying goes: "Don't make decisions when you are angry". Since the Burmese at the moment are furious with their coup-making military, some of the things they've been asking for surely lack the depth and breath of understanding and consideration of a wide range of issues, problems, and consequences. It would thus be unabashedly opportunistic for external forces to exploit such a big hole in the Burmese armor at one of Myanmar's most difficult moment.
Unlike the CRPP in the 1990s, the CRPH has far fewer ethnic representations: it has only two members from minor ethnic-based parties. Major election-winning ethnic parties do not land explicit or ample support to the committee. The CRPH is calling for the formation of a federal army, but without a vision of a power-sharing federal state. The term, "federal" has now been used for other sectors, such as, "federal education". While the "federal" adjective can be added to every imaginable sector, the question is, what is the essence of such discourse and the concrete plan to achieve "federal" everything and federalism?
One thing is certain: federal has become the new democracy in Myanmar. We should not be surprised if we begin to see some shops and business with "federal" name in mainland Myanmar.
