Junta chief threatens resistance in Armed Forces Day speech

By Admin 27 Mar 2023

DMG Newsroom
27 March 2023, Sittwe

As junta boss Min Aung Hlaing issued threats to the civilian National Unity Government (NUG), People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) and their allied ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) on Monday, critics said the senior-general’s rhetorical posturing was a classic case of bark being worse than bite.

In an address marking the 78th anniversary of Armed Forces Day, Min Aung Hlaing said “decisive action” would be taken against the NUG, PDFs, and EAOs assisting them.

“Terrorist organisations including PDFs that were born out of the NUG, which was established out of political motives, and some EAOs assisting them, are committing destructive acts. We will take decisive action against the NUG and EAOs supporting terrorist organisations,” said Min Aung Hlaing.

Min Aung Hlaing also vowed to attach great importance to restoring stability and the rule of law across Myanmar.

Political analyst U Pe Than said the regime is not in a position to crush the NUG, PDFs or allied EAOs.

“Min Aung Hlaing has become worried that the NUG and EAOs are collaborating on the understanding that federalism and democracy are intertwined,” said U Pe Than. “The Myanmar military has never been able to root out EAOs. He [Min Aung Hlaing] has now made a threat, hoping that it will deter the two groups from working together. But it is unlikely that EAOs will be intimidated by his threat. They are under the same roof now.”

Political analyst U Ye Htun said it is unlikely that either side will crush the other.

“Both sides have been talking about annihilating the other side. We will wait and see which side will gain the upper hand. But both sides have been suffering losses, and they will become aware that it is impossible to crush the other. Then they will engage in talks,” he said.

PDFs, which collectively form the armed wing of the NUG, have been fighting the regime across much of the country.

Meanwhile, five EAOs are fully cooperating with the NUG politically, militarily, or both, and a handful of EAOs are providing military training and arms to the PDFs, according to the NUG’s Defence Ministry.

The regime has labelled the NUG and its affiliated PDFs as terrorist organisations. Last month, it declared martial law in dozens of townships across the country.

“I would like to leave a word that lawful actions will be decisively taken against NUG and the terrorist organisations, and some EAOs giving sponsors to terrorism,” Min Aung Hlaing was quoted as saying in the junta-controlled Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper. 

“Thus, martial law is increasingly being imposed in important townships that need to be controlled during the second phase of the State of Emergency,” he added. “Here, I would like to mention that this imposition is not meant to restrict the people but to efficiently control the actions of terrorists who seek to ruin the interest of people.”

Currently, 47 townships across Sagaing, Magwe, Bago, Yangon and Tanintharyi regions, and Chin, Kayin, Mon and Kayah states, are under martial law.