News update on the situation in Myanmar

With the nation in what amounts to a battle between unarmed civilians of the Civil Disobedience Movement – CDM and the Military, based on the endless slaughter of the innocent civilians it is time to take up arms. If peaceful protests are not respected by the Junta and the killings of the citizens of Myanmar, in a desperate attempt by the generals to prove that they have control of the nation continues, then there is no other option.

The world is watching and the disappointment of all nations that the United Nation - UN seems hopelessly paralysed and unable to act because of the vetoes of Russia and China grows. Consequently, the UN Security Council has proven to be ineffective and unable to assist in resolving the situation in Myanmar. The calls for action by many nations and organisations around the world that the UN needs to act is basically “going nowhere”. The situation to date shows that the UN are not able to implement their mandate to enact Right to Protect - R2P. The UN resolve is showing that they will do nothing!

Fortunately, Myanmar has many ethnic guerrilla armies inside the country, specifically, in the border areas. Of those ethnic armies­– ceasefire members and non-ceasefire members–many are now referred to as the Federal Army such as the Arakan Army, Chin National Front, Kachin Independence Army, Karen National Union, Karenni Army, Lahu Democratic Union, New Mon State Party, Pa-O National Organization, Shan State Army – North, Ta'ang National Liberation Army, Wa National Organisation and Zomi Revolutionary Army. The forces are growing on a daily basis and the battle lines are being drawn. Many ethnic armies are ready to fight, and they have proven effective in the past fighting the Myanmar Army and current Junta Army. Recent violations of the so called “ceasefire” by the Junta with air strikes against the Karen people in Kayin State, and the clashes between Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army, the Arakan Army shows the duplicity of the generals and their dishonesty. Many people have been killed by the air strikes on villages and over 10,00 people displaced and are now living in caves and the forests and/or trying to escape across the border to Thailand and India. This has galvanised the Federal Army into greater action.

The Federal Army have one potential huge advantage in that if they control the northern states, they will have control of the hugely important oil and gas pipeline to China owned by the generals and China. The Federal Army will of course turn off the supply to China and create a bargaining chip when they gain control of the Chin and Kachin States. The outcome will be that China will realise that backing the Junta and the generals is to back a losing regime. The potential pipeline situation and the failure of the Junta to secure the economic interests of China in Myanmar is becoming more obvious on a daily basis as the nation has gone on strike and closed down most economic functions. This scenario heralds the end of the support of China for the Junta!

As China controls up to 80% of the trade with Myanmar and has significant economic interest in Myanmar China is not looking happy with the rhetoric of the generals that falsely claims, “everything is under control”. The Junta has clearly shown they have lost control and cannot rule the nation as it descends into anarchy. Clearly, they have lost the confidence of their people.  They do not want to step down and restore democracy as they know they will be held to account for the coup detat and the killings of their innocent citizens during the CDM.

An alternative government “in exile” which has taken the name Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (National Parliament)  as the legitimate government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar after the military coup on 1 February 2021 and more recently the Federal Democracy Union - National Union Government (NUG) has been established. This has happened because the real winners in the last election are all under illegal detention. The Federal Democracy Union - National Union Government has established a legitimate claim to rule the nation and a new Constitution has been written known as the Federal Democracy Charter which affirms the intention of the government and people to forward their Revolution such that there will be a restoration of democracy in Myanmar.

In the end the soldiers of the military will lay down their arms either voluntarily or by force and join the people for they are their Myanmar brothers and sisters. The Junta and the generals will lose, as all dictators with their non-democratic governments have throughout history.

The people have the power for they are many and they ultimately will win even under the threats of tyranny and the oppression by the Junta.

We ask the Junta Army and the Police to lay down their arms and join the people in the Revolution. They know what is right and many are now defecting. Without the support of the Army and Police the tyranny of the generals is over, and Democracy and Peace will return to Myanmar.

Source: Report compiled by Kingsley Head, Secretary of the Myanmar Committee on Democracy Human Rights and Peace.