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Myanmar: 2019 flag proposals

Last modified: 2023-06-03 by zachary harden
Keywords: myanmar | star (white) | flag proposal |
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Background

According to a souce, there were several parties that proposed to change the Myanmar national flag that was adopted in 2010. The issue, they contend, is that the country was not properly consulted on the 2010 change and this project is to allow that consultation to happen. In filings with the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw’s Constitutional Amendment Committee, the National League for Democracy (NLD; among others), submitted a total of four designs to be considered for the new national flag. The other three proposals, listed at BBC Burmese, were proposed by the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), the Zomi Congress for Democracy (ZCD), and the National Unity Party (NUP; respectively).
Zachary Harden, 24 July 2019


NLD flag proposal

[2019 flag proposal: Myanmar] image by Zachary Harden, 24 July 2019

The design by the National League for Democracy is a modification of the pre-2010 flag and the independence flag where there is a blue canton is placed on a red background. In this blue canton, there are fourteen white stars surrounding a larger star, also colored white. The symbolism is where the fourteen stars represent the states and regions in the country, with the larger star to mark the Union. I am not certain of the specifics if they will go back to the 5:9 ratio or keep the 2:3 ratio, but it remains to be seen.
Zachary Harden, 24 July 2019

I personally think the ratio is likely to be in 5:9 as the spokesperson said the flag is based on the post-independence flag. He also said the party decided to propose a new flag since they had already decided to amend the whole constitution. According to a report by Myanmar Now, the flag got 395 votes out of the minimum 491 (75% of the parliament) needed for the proposals to be approved.
Madd Man, 01 September 2022


SNLD flag proposal

[2019 flag proposal: Myanmar] image by Zachary Harden, 24 July 2019

The SNLD proposed a design where the width has 1/3rd of the current national flag, sans star. The remaining two-thirds is a UN blue background with eight smaller stars surrounding a giant one. The stars, I believe, are for the divisions and territories surrounding the Union (similar to the NLD proposed flag).
Zachary Harden, 24 July 2019

"The Yellow, Green and Red colours are important in the history of Burma, so we decided to keep them. The Blue would represent the peaceful union. The large star is the union and the smaller stars are our vision of the Federal Union defined in the 1961 Taunggyi Convention" said by the spokesperson. The Shan people have been proposing for a new state merged from all the 'Regions' of Burma. So, those 8 smaller stars are essentially the 8 main ethnic groups of Burma (Kachin, Karen, Karenni, Chin, Burmans, Mon, Arakan, and Shan).
Madd Man, 01 September 2022


ZDC flag proposal

[2019 flag proposal: Myanmar] image by Zachary Harden, 24 July 2019

The ZDC flag is a UN blue background with a white map of the country, surrounded by a gold oval.
Zachary Harden, 24 July 2019


NUD flag proposal

[2019 flag proposal: Myanmar]Reconstruction; image by Zachary Harden, 24 July 2019

The NUD design is a tan flag with an off-white oval in the center. There is a black border between the two shapes. Inside this, there is a map of Myanmar in different colors. I would assume it is for the divisions or states, however, the graphic from the BBC was in very low resolution and I have not found the source document referenced.
Zachary Harden, 24 July 2019

"The Khaki colour is actually the colour of the soil, representing the Agriculture, all the social classes, and as well as the Scholars of the "Democratic Federal Union". There are too much of using the Yellow, Green and Red colours as of right now. The administrative divisions are separately coloured as to portray the political history of the country." said by the party chairman. The party also had proposed to remove the lions from the state seal and change the text in the scrolls.
Madd Man, 01 September 2022