The main underground group coordinating resistance to Myanmar's military government called for a nationwide uprising on Tuesday. The N...
The main underground group coordinating resistance to Myanmar's military government called for a nationwide uprising on Tuesday.
The National Unity Government (NUG), composed primarily of elected legislators who were barred from taking their seats after a military coup seized power in February, views itself as a shadow government and aims to remove the military leaders.
The group's acting president Duwa Lashi La called for revolt 'in every village, town and city in the entire country at the same time' and declared what he called a 'state of emergency.'
The country has been wracked by unrest since the military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February, with several instances of low-level resistance in many urban areas while ethnic minority militias have clashed with government troops in border regions.
There were no immediate signs of heightened resistance activity following Duwa Lashi La's call to arms, although some student groups and ethnic armed organizations expressed solidarity, while others led peaceful protests.
This image taken from a clip released by the National Unity Government (NUG) via Facebook, shows Duwa Lashi La, the group's acting president, calling for a nationwide uprising
The shadow government's acting president Duwa Lashi La called for revolt 'in every village, town and city in the entire country at the same time' against the military-installed government and declared a so-called 'state of emergency'
The shadow government's prime minister, Mahn Winn Khaing Thann, said in a separate statement posted online that the move was taken due to 'changing circumstances' that required the complete abolition of the ruling military government.
The NUG is popular inside Myanmar, but its actual power and influence is questionable, particularly given that members of its shadow Cabinet are in hiding or in exile.
It has frequently issued sweeping proclamations and policy statements declaring the military government and its actions invalid and illegal, but they've had little real-world effect.
In response, the military has dispatched patrols to the streets, fortified guard outposts with sandbags and barriers
Resistance appears to be relatively low-level thus far with disjointed protests but little conflict
The NUG controls no territory, does not directly control any armed force and has won no diplomatic recognition from foreign countries, meaning that any co-ordinated offensive against Myanmar's ruling military junta would heavily upon support from citizens across the country.
Duwa Lashi La called on the ethnic militias, some of whom have declared themselves in alliance with the resistance, to 'immediately attack' government forces and 'fully control your lands.'
In response, the military has dispatched patrols to the streets, fortified guard outposts with sandbags and barriers, and launched a small squadron of helicopters and fighter jets.
The call for an uprising has thus far not yielded a strong wave of resistance across the country, but images and videos of disjointed protests have begun to appear on social media.
The military has launched a small squadron of helicopters and fighter jets, mostly in a show of force
The call for an uprising has thus far not yielded a strong wave of resistance across the country, but images and videos of disjointed protests have begun to appear on social media
A women’s march against the military junta began in Kale, Sagaing, this morning, one of many disjointed protests in the country
Meanwhile, the ethnic armed forces, which have been fighting for decades for greater autonomy from Myanmar´s central government, operate independently of the National Unity Government.
Duwa Lashi La called for a 'people´s revolution' and asked for all soldiers and police to join the 'people´s defense forces.' He also warned civil servants against going to their offices.
He advised people to heed their personal safety and not travel unnecessarily, as well as to stock up on food and medicine, guidance it has offered on at least one past occasion when it warned of trouble ahead.
Finally, Duwa Lashi La implored citizens to help the defense forces where they can, including with information about government military forces.
The resistance movement against the military takeover had established 'people´s defense forces' in many areas, but they mostly operate locally and when active, carry out small-scale hit-and-run guerrilla operations.
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