Nay Pyi Taw, 17 November
The Deputy Defense Minister of the National Unity Government (NUG), Nai Kaung Ywat, stated that he does not anticipate the ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), who held peace talks with the military council, to take part in the ongoing battles to seize control of the military bases and towns.
Nai Kaung Ywat made this remark in an exclusive interview about Operation 1027 that was aired on Nov. 15 by Ramanya FM, which is based in Mon State.
“Among the ethnic armed groups that signed Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) signatories to the NCA, the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Chin National Front (CNF) withdrew from the NCA, and the student armed group ABSDF also joined us,” Nai Kaung Ywat said.
Other NCA-signatories, such as the New Mon State Party (NMSP), the sub-group Karen Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC), and Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) and the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), do not have significant military strength.
“We do not expect too much from these groups in the current situation, whether or not they participate in the fight to overthrow the military dictatorship,” he said.
“The NMSP is worried about harming the Mon people, and whether or not to participate in the battle depends on their decision. The Spring Revolution is accomplished by the participation of ethnic peoples, and it is important for us to win this struggle,” said Nai Kaung Ywat.
Regarding Nai Kaung Ywat’s statement, Than Lwin Times has reached out to the NCA-signatories’ spokesperson, Colonel Saw Kyaw Nyunt, and the internal affairs officer of the NMSP, Nai Nanyar Le, by phone at least three times, but they have not responded yet.
The NUG’s Ministry of Defense is fighting the military council in full cooperation with its subordinate People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) and ethnic armed organizations such as the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Chin National Front (CNF), Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), Karen National Union (KNU), and student group All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF).
The Three Brotherhood Alliance—the Arakan Army (AA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA-Kokang), and Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA)—launched Operation 1027 in late October and have been fighting alongside allied forces until today.
The military has to rely on the people, according to Nai Kuang Ywat, so regardless of how many weapons and aircraft it possesses, it will eventually deteriorate if it is unable to recruit new members and will collapse if the public does not support it.
News-Than Lwin Times
Photo- Yamanya FM
Thanlwintimes