Su Wai Hlaing*
It has been seven months since the military coup occurred in Myanmar. Now, the Shadow Government of Myanmar (National Unity Government, NUG) has declared War on the Myanmar Military on 7 September 2021. The shadow government’s prime minister, Mahn Winn Khaing Thann, urged in his online statement that it was necessary for Burmese people to join in the war to abolish the rule of the Myanmar military regime. His statement was also strongly supported by the shadow government’s acting president Duwa Lashi La asking for revolutionary action in every village, town and city across the whole country simultaneously to fight the ruthless military government and announced the situation as a state of emergency.
The Myanmar military has not stopped arresting and killing innocent civilians, including children. Internal wars have been breaking out across the country causing millions of people to be constantly on the run and being displaced since the coup. Despite the chaos across the country, the Myanmar military leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, announced himself as the prime minister to lead the country until another election will be held in the next two years. NUG’s statement about country-wide defensive revolution should be a reminder to The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) about the nature of the junta as it had been giving a lot of support to the military generals despite their broken promises towards ASEAN and refusal to allow the ASEAN representative envoy from Brunei to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. She has been detained in an unknown place since the coup started. ASEAN also refused to invite the representative from NUG to attend the ASEAN Summit and only invited the representative of the Myanmar military.
Debates have ensued about NUG’s call for war. Some think it is too soon and some think it is the right time. Although there are dilemmas among Burmese people about having another war in the country despite the impact of the coup and recent COVID-19 outbreaks, there is considerable support for NUG, and they believe that their liberation will come only if the Myanmar military is defeated. Since 1960 the Burmese people only glimpsed freedom for eight years under Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s government and they are all aware of the deceit and ruthlessness of the military. Again, they witnessed the incapability of Min Aung Hlaing’s government even to handle recent COVID-19 outbreaks. For example, instead of directing resources into treating and supporting COVID-19 patients he told the Burmese people on state media that he was building ten more cremation sites across the country.
Other failures of Min Aung Hlaing’s Government include rising inflation as a result of which the prices of even basic consumable items have rocketed, and the number of starving families has increased. The schools were shut indefinitely, and the banks are not operating well enough to circulate enough cash around the country. Hospitals are severely under-staffed due to the civil disobedience movement against the military. Foreign investments have declined, and joblessness has increased.
It seems there are only two choices for the people of Burma: to fight against military rule or to continue their slavery under the Military junta. It seems they have made their choice.
*the author is a Burmese citizen living outside of Myanmar
Opinions from the Unity News Network (UNN) editorial team & various contributors. | UNN always clearly distinguishes between news and opinion pieces and as an open minded outlet we publish views from a variety of people and organisation that do not necessarily reflect the views of UNN or its writers. Articles published under UNN Opinions are always opinion pieces and if published on behalf of a contributor will contain that authors name at the start of the piece.
