If what Nang Khin Htwe Myint said is the policy of NLD and meant to be that of Aung San Suu Kyi, we are in for a latent conflict between the NLD and ethnic nationalities as a whole instead of a cooperation to build a just and fair genuine federal union.

It is all along understood that the democratic camp, including the NLD, are of the opinion that the Chief State Minister should be elected by the people of the concerned state and not the Union President, as prescribed by the military-drafted constitution.

The NLD was sympathetic when the ethnic MPs were trying to change this section so that they could elect their own State Chief Minister. But now it is going to use the constitutional privilege that is granted to put its own people as Chief Ministers.

It is understandable, if the NLD exercises such authority in states and regions that it has won with majority. But at least it should endorse and support the homegrown political parties candidates in Arakan and Shan States, where the ethnic parties won with a big margin and achieved sizeable seats more than the NLD.
By showing this kind of broadmindedness the NLD might prove that it is keeping it’s promises to amend the constitution to be a genuine federalism, by not making use of the unfair power monopoly drafted by the military clique.

It is now up to the NLD to choose, whether cooperation with the ethnic nationalities or confrontation, which will also determine if it is for real justified genuine federalism or watered down unitary system with some democratic window dressing.