Negotiate or Annihilate – The Question for the Myanmar Resistance

James Swe

As Myanmar’s revolution enters a pivotal phase, the core dilemma facing the pro-democracy movement is stark: Should the resistance negotiate with the military junta now, or continue the fight until the regime is decisively broken? The answer is not simply a matter of battlefield tactics but a question of strategy, unity, and the long-term vision for a democratic, federal Myanmar.

The Stakes: More Than a Military Contest

Since the 2021 coup, Myanmar’s people have shown extraordinary courage, reclaiming territory, building local governance, and rejecting military rule at great personal cost. As Daw Zin Mar Aung, the National Unity Government’s (NUG) Foreign Minister, recently wrote in the Bangkok Post, the revolution is not about vengeance. It is about transforming Myanmar’s political system, ensuring civilian supremacy over the military, and creating a federal democracy that truly represents all ethnic nationalities.