Third Force (Myanmar)

Part of a series on the
Democracy movements in Myanmar
The fighting peacock flag
Background
Post-independence Burma
Internal conflict in Myanmar
Burmese Way to Socialism
State Peace and Development Council
State Administrative Council
Mass protests
8888 Uprising Saffron Revolution Spring Revolution
Development
Roadmap to democracy New constitution Reforms of 2011 2021 coup d'état
Elections
1990 2010 2012 2015 2020
Organizations
National League for Democracy 88 Generation Students Group Burma Campaign UK Free Burma Coalition U.S. Campaign for Burma Generation Wave All Burma Students' Democratic Front Third Force Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw National Unity Government People's Defence Force
Figures
U Nu Aung Gyi Tin Oo Aung San Suu Kyi Min Ko Naing Thein Sein
Related topics
Human rights in Myanmar Politics of Myanmar Foreign relations of Myanmar
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The Third Force is an informal group name given to a collection of political parties and local non-governmental organisations operating inside Burma (also known as Myanmar).^[1] It was used mainly in relation with the 2010 general elections. Although campaigning for improvement of living conditions and for democratic change inside the country, the Third Force is seen as distinct from Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy. The political parties participated in the November 2010 General elections while Aung San Suu Kyi's party called for a general boycott. Some state that the Third Force consists of liberal elements of the regime, more 'pragmatic' components of the opposition movement and a handful of local and foreign academics who advocated for a change in western policy of sanctions and isolation.^{[citation needed]} The Third Force contains pro-democracy parties, ethnic minorities parties and locally established educational non-governmental organisations.

The name is derived from the argument that the members are distinct from the two main political camps inside the country, the Burmese military regime and the political movement centred on Aung San Suu Kyi. It is seen as campaigning for the similar goals of the more well known opposition but by adopting a less confrontational approach. Some have described it as neither pro-junta or pro-opposition.^[2]