Junta chief blames anti-regime forces for people's sufferings

By Admin 15 Oct 2024

DMG Newsroom
15 October 2024, Sittwe

Myanmar coup leader Min Aung Hlaing, whose regime has lost large swaths of territory to resistance forces since late last year in particular, has blamed several of the ethnic armed groups opposed to its rule for the ongoing conflicts ravaging the country.

The junta boss used an event held on October 15, marking the ninth anniversary of the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), to lash out at both signatories and non-signatories to the accord.

"The actions of the combined terrorist group, MNDAA [Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army], TNLA [Ta'ang National Liberation Army], and AA [Arakkha Army], which started in October 2023, have worsened the socio-economic conditions of the people," Min Aung Hlaing said in his remarks.

"Prior to this, the KNPP [Karenni National Progressive Party], KNDF [Karenni Nationalities Defense Force], PNLO [Pa-O National Liberation Organization], KIA [Kachin Independence Army] and KNU [Karen National Union] carried out many acts of sabotage in various areas. As a result, many innocent people suffered," he added.

"When an unexpected political change in Myanmar occurred in 2021," he said, referring to the February 2021 coup that he spearheaded, some ethnic armed groups that were signatories to the NCA violated the terms of the agreement by supporting the National Unity Government (NUG), Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) and the People's Defence Forces, he also claimed.

Those assertions are not shared by many among the affected populations on the ground in conflict zones, however.

"The intensity of military conflicts in Myanmar has been due to the oppression of military dictators for ages," said an Arakanese youth. "The situation worsened when the military seized power without accepting the government elected by the people. Therefore, I see Min Aung Hlaing as covering up his own mistakes and blaming others."

Among the ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) that signed the NCA in 2015 were the KNU, PNLO, Restoration Council of Shan State, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation (Peace Council), Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), Chin National Front and All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF).

Two more EAOs - the New Mon State Party and Lahu Democratic Union - signed the NCA in February 2018 under the now ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) government.

Three NCA signatories - KNU, CNF and ABSDF - have been fighting the regime since the 2021 coup, saying it was in fact the Myanmar military and the government it now leads as being the entities responsible for violating the ceasefire's terms.

The New Mon State Party and the PNLO have each since splintered into two groups: those who continue to accept the NCA and those who are fighting the military regime in the wake of its coup.