Nay Pyi Taw, March (29)
The military leader’s declaration of war against some of the ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) supporting the dissidents may further escalate the civil war, said the political analysts.
The military leader stated in his speech on Armed Forces Day, which the revolutionary forces refer to as Fascist Revolution Day, he will take decisive action against some EAOs who are backing the National Unity Government (NUG) and the People’s Defense Forces (PDFs).
U Than Soe Naing, a political analyst, pointed out that the military leader’s speech was an admission that his peace plan had failed, and that he had declared war on groups cooperating with the NUG.
“These organizations have been fighting the military regime since the beginning. In 2023, NUG-led forces, PDFs, and ethnic armed groups in Myanmar will intensify their attacks on the junta army. Now in Kayah and Karen States have seen fierce fighting,” he said.
On March 28, a day after the military leader declared war on some ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) joint forces seized the junta’s Mae Ka Htar outpost near the Salween River on the Thai-Myanmar border in Hpapun District, Karen State.
The Karen National Union (KNU) spokesperson Pado Saw Taw Nee told Than Lwin Times that the military leader’s statement was not taken seriously as it was unbelievable and that they will continue to make efforts to end the military dictatorship.
According to Chin National Front (CNF) spokesman Salai Htet Ni said, “the country has reached the level of a failed state due to the military coup, and within two years, the lives and homes of the people of the Chin region have been destroyed due to the severe attacks by the military council. The army threatened, killed, and imprisoned innocent people. Min Aung Hlaing is now taking decisive action against anti-regime forces,” he said.
Although the CNF signed a nationwide cease-fire agreement, after the coup, it has been resisting the junta army together with the PDFs.
According to data from the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO), there were 53 airstrikes by the junta in Chin State’s four townships in January and February, dropping at least 140 bombs.
On the other hand, the military leader said on Armed Forces Day that he always opens the doors to ethnic groups, calling for ethnic armed organizations to come to the peace table.
Comrade Salai Htet Aung from the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) Central Committee said, “the military leader’s peace talks have no substance. Min Aung Hlaing also made this remark at the fourth 21st Century Panglong Conference that the door is open for peace talks. I see his comment as selling dog meat while showing a goat’s head,”
The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the Karen National Union (KNU), the Chin National Front (CNF), the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), and the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) are actively fighting to eradicate the military dictatorship, which is the goal of the Spring Revolution.
This week, fighting has been raging on in some areas controlled by these ethnic armed groups, and more than 90 soldiers were killed in a battle that broke out in Kayah State’s DawtamaGyi village.
According to research group ISP – Myanmar’s statement on February 9, more than 8,000 clashes occurred throughout the country in two years of the military coup.
News-Than Lwin Times
Photo- Junta army conducting military drills in 2018 (Photo-CINCDS)