The Fake Transition in a Genocidal Country
Thinzar Shunlei Yi views the transition years in Myanmar with mixed feelings. While acknowledging the opportunities that emerged during this period for broader societal involvement and political engagement, she expresses disappointment over the limited actual progress towards genuine democracy. Thinzar criticizes the superficial nature of the transition, which she felt failed to dismantle the entrenched military influence or achieve meaningful reforms. This period left her disillusioned, recognizing the stark limitations imposed by the 2008 constitution that continued to govern political realities in Myanmar.
“But I argue with that. I argue with that, because was it worth it? That was the main question. Even though I was a part of it, I felt it was not worth it.”
“Sometimes, people think people just think of me [as], ‘Oh, she's from military.’ Just one example, when I criticized NLD, I criticized NLD because they were doing bad things for the minorities and ethnic groups. I felt like, ‘Oh, they should be doing better. I voted for you and you should be doing better.’ That's why I criticized them. But in a way, people think, ‘You're from military family. That's why you will criticize the NLD.’
They point at you to justify. I’m saying based on my background. ‘Oh, you're from a minority ethnicity; so, you don't. ‘You are from the majority Burmese and Buddhist society; so, why are you criticizing the NLD? Because she's a nationalist; she's from military sides.’ It's so confusing for some people. They don't understand how a person can change, how a person, especially young people, can become really progressive over time. I felt like is it is possible.
Now, I'm working with a lot of defectors, former soldiers, and they felt like they are excluded when they changed their sides. They are now on the democratic side, and they want to become more democratic; they want to become a better person. They face a lot of pushback and trust issues. I was telling them, ‘Trust me, if you are willing to become better, you will be. Because I chose that path, too. And I walked through; I walked through this. I faced a lot of pushback, but I have become a part of a society. And it's possible. You can gain trust, if you are genuine, honest, and sincere.’ That's how I've been trying to mentor the other soldiers and family members that are from military side, to become a better version of themselves.
The past transition, so-called transition, I always say it is a fake transition. Looking back myself, when I told you my story, the 2010 election gave me an opportunity to learn more about democracy and in a way gave me access to different society. I dared to challenge, because the country is also moving in some way. It gave me a lot of opportunities to engage with different people. I would say, also it does the same thing with different countries.
The former transition people say, ‘See, we did it. You are one of the proven examples of the success of the transition. Do you know? We train loads of young people like yourself to become better versions. That's why the transition was important, that that part of transition was a success, and so on.’ But I argue with that. I argue with that, because was it worth it? That was the main question. Even though I was a part of it, I felt it was not worth it. Because the past ten years, of course, gave us a lot of other different opportunities, saying, ‘Oh, that insane government was trying to open up this society, to invite more investment. Phone prices were cheaper, and the Internet is coming. Everything was there. But I would say under the 2008 Constitution, was it worth it?
Looking back, I felt we didn't stop the Civil War. The Civil War kept happening, and the genocide in the middle of it. And we lost our democratic forces to the 2008 Constitution, especially the NLD itself. It is trying to become adjustable. They tried so hard to fit into the 2008 Constitution, and that 2008 Constitution was not designed for Myanmar and the way we are. So, that's why I felt it was not worth it. We had so many losses along the way. Of course, we have had some gains, but comparing the gains and the losses, the losses are more. The country is even becoming a genocidal country. I feel like there must be another way. There must have to be another end.
The Internet, the phone line thing, that people appreciate, things in government, saying, ‘Thank you for lowering the price for the phones and the Internet.’ But basically these things are unstoppable. The digital revolutions, the Internet is already going around and around and around. No dictator can stop it. It's not because they open it up; it’s is because it's unstoppable. It's already there. There are many other things, reflecting on the past ten years, and I felt like, ‘No, it's not worth it. We should have done something better.’ Okay, now we already have it. We already had that past transition. And we need to take lessons from it and go forward from it and be a better version of our own revolution. So this time, I think the Spring Revolution gave me a lot of hope. ‘Oh, now we are on the right track in the end.’ You know?”