Myanmar junta asks citizens to expose shadow government activity
Bangkok, Jun 11 (EFE).- Myanmar’s military junta on Wednesday asked citizens to report the activities of the shadow National Unity Government (NUG), made up of opposition politicians and activists, as well as those of civilian defense forces.
The military described the NUG and civilian defense forces as “terrorists,” and accused them of “incitement” to “kill innocent people” and of “deteriorating [the] peace and stability” of the country, the junta-controlled newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar reported.
According to the military authorities, the NUG and its People’s Defense Force (PDF) use social media to incite “terrorist acts” such as fires, bombings and killings against those who differ from their political ideals.
The self-proclaimed alternative government was formed in April by various groups opposed to the junta and seeks to restore democracy in Myanmar with the support and recognition of the international community.
The military carried out a coup on Feb. 1 that overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been detained since, while many of the members of her ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party have been arrested or are living in hiding.
The NUG, which announced in May the formation of a militia to defend civilians from the violent crackdown of the military, has also made a call to the ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) for the formation of a federal army to confront the junta led by General Min Aung Hlaing.
More than four months after the coup, the military junta has been unable to control the country despite its crackdown against widespread opposition.
In addition to the protests, the junta has also opened combat fronts or intensified them against EAOs and the NUG’s PDF throughout the country.
On Thursday night, a former parliamentarian from the Union Solidarity and Development Party, linked to the military, was shot dead in Yangon by two unknown men, witnesses told the Myanmar Now outlet.
The Irrawaddy reported that about 10 soldiers were killed and another 10 wounded on Wednesday afternoon during an ambush by civilian resistance fighters against five military vehicles near the city of Kani, in the northeastern state of Sagaing.
At least 860 civilians have died as a result of the security forces crackdown since the coup, according to data from the Association for the Assistance of Political Prisoners, which also records almost 6,000 arrests.
The military junta justifies its coup alleging electoral fraud in the November polls, in which Suu Kyi’s party won by a landslide, and which were backed by international observers. EFE
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