Myanmar urged to avoid violence after opponents of the junta declared revolt

September 8 (Reuters) – Southeast Asian and Western countries have urged all parts of Myanmar to refrain from violence and allow humanitarian aid, after a shadow government made up of opponents of the military government, declared a national uprising against the junta.

The National Unity Government (NUG) said on Tuesday that it would launch a “popular defensive war” in an attempt to coordinate groups fighting the army and convince troops and administration officials to change sides.

A military spokesman dismissed this as a futile effort to gain global attention. Read more

Security forces clashed in Myanmar’s largest city, Yangon, on Wednesday, a day after protests and an explosion in fighting between the army and ethnic minority insurgents.

“All parties must prioritize the security and well-being of the people of Myanmar,” said Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah, who noted that security was necessary for humanitarian assistance to continue.

Indonesia has taken a lead among Myanmar’s neighbors in an attempt to resolve a crisis unleashed when the military overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on 1 February.

Britain’s ambassador to Myanmar Pete Vowles on Facebook condemned the coup and what he called brutality by the board and urged “all parties to dialogue”.

Security forces have killed hundreds of protesters since the coup, while some board opponents have formed armed groups under the banner of the People’s Defense Forces.

They have also forged alliances with ethnic minority armies that have been heavily opposed to the Myanmar military.

Large protests took place in Sagaing, Magway and Mandalay on Wednesday, as the media reported fighting between the army and Kachin rebels.

It was not immediately clear whether the developments responded to the NUG’s call and it remains to be seen to what extent the shadow government can influence the course of events.

“The NUG statement has received strong support on Myanmar’s social media,” said Richard Horsey, a Myanmar expert with the International Crisis Group.

But he said it was unclear whether opposition forces had the capacity to heat up the fight against Myanmar’s well-equipped military and that the NUG’s “war” declaration could be reversed, causing some countries they would support him more.

“BACK TO DRAWING BOARD”

Chris Sidoti of the Special Advisory Council of Myanmar, a group of international experts, said the NUG was frustrated by the brutality and inaction of the board by the international community.

“Violence is the cause of the suffering of the people of Myanmar, it is not the solution,” Sidoti said.

“We empathize with the NUG, but we fear what will happen as a result of this decision.”

The NUG defense ministry said Wednesday that 29 soldiers were killed in clashes in four regions and that an unspecified number had deserted. Reuters was unable to verify the information independently.

Although Western countries have imposed sanctions to pressure the board, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has led efforts to find a diplomatic solution, but some members of the bloc, including Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, are exasperated by the absence of progress on a peace plan the board had agreed to.

“Now with the latest event, you really have to get back to the drawing board,” Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah told a news conference in reference to the call for the NUG revolt.

An ASEAN envoy to Myanmar, Erywan Yusof, was quoted as saying over the weekend that the military had accepted his ceasefire proposal to allow the distribution of aid.

But no part of the conflict has confirmed this.

Asked on Wednesday for his response to the NUG announcement, his office said: “The special envoy is monitoring the situation closely.”

In Washington, a U.S. State Department spokesman noted the declaration of a “people’s defensive war,” but called for peace to allow aid and the delivery of medicines, Radio Free Asia reported. funded by the United States.

“The United States does not accept violence as a solution to the current crisis,” the spokesman said.

While most Western countries have condemned the army for ousting the government of Suu Kyi, China, which has considerable economic interests in Myanmar, has taken a softer line in pushing for stability and non-interference.

The state-run newspaper Global Times warned that Western countries were giving military support to anti-junta forces.

“If armed clashes are fought and extremist political action is encouraged, the country will be plagued with endless battles and problems,” he said in an opinion piece.

Reuters Staff Reports Ed Davies Writing Edited by Robert Birsel and Gareth Jones

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