NUG’s acting president describes 2023 as critical year for anti-junta resistance

01 Jan 2023

DMG Newsroom
1 January 2023, Sittwe

In a New Year’s speech on Sunday, the acting president of the National Unity Government (NUG), Duwa Lashi La, called 2023 an important year for the revolution against Myanmar’s military regime and a turning of political fortunes.

Duwa Lashi La said that in order to do away with the junta and establish a federal democratic union, it is necessary for all ethnic people to continue their struggle. Duwa Lashi added that the groups that are leading the revolution must unite and cooperate on grand strategy.

“I absolutely believe that 2023 is a very important year for the turning of the country’s political fortunes. Therefore, I urge the ethnic armed groups, revolutionary forces, and the entire people to continue this revolution against the military dictatorship together with the NUG,” he said.

The NUG has been working consistently to overthrow the military dictatorship and establish a federal democratic union, he added, saying the parallel government was able to build more trust with ethnic revolutionary organisations in 2022, as well as carry out practical cooperation.

“The NUG has been able to connect with all ethnic revolutionary organisations and has been able to establish strong military and political cooperation with important organisations,” Duwa La Lashi said. “At the same time, the NUG has been able to strengthen its connection with local and foreign civil organisations in addition to its strategic and practical work with local armed organisations, and has been able to slow down the military council from all sides. This is the result of the ethnic people’s strong desire to oppose the dictatorial military regime, and their efforts.”

He went on to say that currently, the military junta is facing political, economic, social and diplomatic crises, and has already lost significant standing on the international front.

“While the revolutionary organisations are gaining the upper hand on all sides, the military regime is looking for a way out by creating a sham election, because there is no way out,” Duwa La Lashi said, referring to junta plans to hold a general election later this year. 

“The election to be held by the military terrorists is just a political trick; a political trap aimed at prolonging their power and reducing the military and political crises they are facing,” he added.

The NUG’s acting president listed the recognition of Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun as Myanmar’s representative at the United Nations; the inclusion of provisions to assist the NUG and other anti-regime organisations in the US National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA); and the banning of junta representatives at some ASEAN fora as major victories for the revolutionary movement.

DMG was unable to obtain comment from regime spokesman Major-General Zaw Min Tun regarding Duwa La Lashi’s New Year’s speech.