Conflicts & War

Myanmar people ‘will never renounce right to freedom,’ says parallel gov’t

Bangkok, Feb 1 (EFE).- The people of Myanmar will never renounce their right to “freedom and peace,” the country’s parallel civilian government made up of deposed parliamentarians and activists opposed to the military junta said Tuesday on the second anniversary of the coup.

“Our desire for peace and freedom far outweighs the tyrannical greed of the brutal military generals, and we will never give up our right to this freedom and peace,” said Dr Sasa, spokesman for the National Unity Government (NUG), which proclaims itself the legitimate authority in Myanmar after the February 2021 coup that brought down the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

“Together we will defeat this tyranny, these loathsome oppressors, and put an end to dictatorship on our blood soaked soil once and for all. We will restore our nation and eradicate atrocities, genocides, and juntas,” he added in a statement.

A silent strike was to be held across the country on Wednesday, with organizers asking residents not to leave their homes between 10 am and 3 pm.

Anti-coup protests also took place in countries such as Thailand, the Philippines and South Korea.

The military takeover plunged Myanmar into deep political, social and economic crises and has reopened a spiral of violence with new civilian militias, such as the People’s Defense Force – created by the NUG – which has exacerbated decades of war.

The military junta, headed by Min Aung Hlaing, has reiterated its commitment to hold elections organized by bodies linked to the junta by the middle of this year.

But Dr Sasa demanded the international community “spare no efforts to condemn, denounce, and thoroughly reject this proposed illegal, fraudulent and illegitimate sham of an election,” the date of which is yet to be announced.

He also warned that an election would “only bring about increased violence, bloodshed, and a prolonged reign-of-terror against the people of Myanmar.”

“Mark my words; a new Myanmar is coming – a Myanmar that will stand strong for every one of its citizens regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender or background; a Myanmar that will join the march to global peace and security,” he concluded.

More than 2,900 people have been killed since the coup and more than 13,750 are still detained, according to the latest figures from Myanmar’s Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. EFE

nc/tw

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