Pro-junta parties support declaration of ethnic armies as terrorists

By Admin 04 Sep 2024

DMG Newsroom
4 September 2024, Sittwe

Twenty-five political parties led by the military’s proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) have released a joint statement supporting the junta’s recent declaration of three ethnic armies as terrorist organisations.

The regime on Monday labelled the Arakkha Army (AA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) — which are collectively known as Brotherhood Alliance — as terrorist organisations.

The next day, the 25 political parties issued a joint statement saying they fully support the junta’s declaration of the three ethnic armies “on behalf of millions of Myanmar people.”

The statement says the 25 parties have continuously condemned the three groups’ “deliberate attempts to create woes for civilians” and will continue to oppose their activities.

Critics of the statement countered that the 25 parties do not represent the overwhelming sentiment of the Myanmar people.

Political analyst U Than Soe Naing said: “The regime has people who it can hire for 5,000 kyats per day to stage protests. The parties that have issued the joint statement are similar ones. They are anticipating the junta’s election. Their statement will not have any impact and no one is interested in it.”

Among the 25 parties that signed the joint statement are three parties from Arakan State —  the Khami National Development Party, Mro Ethnic Party, Rakhine Nationalities Development Party.

Those parties have registered with the regime-appointed Union Election Commission (UEC) for the junta’s proposed poll. The junta’s election body has approved their registration and they are holding talks with the regime regarding the proposed poll.

One Arakan State resident said: “We don’t support or accept any political party or organisation in Arakan State except the United League of Arakan/Arakkha Army. Those [25] parties are the pawns of the regime for its proposed poll.”

“The country has been deteriorating since the coup,” noted a civilian from Magway Region. “ No one wants such a government. Political parties that are supporting such a government are shameless to say they represent the people.”