“With the responsibility to protect life and properties of the people, the National Unity Government … launched a people’s defensive war against the military junta,” Duwa Lashi La mentioned.
The NUG is a gaggle of ousted lawmakers, opponents of the coup and representatives of ethnic minority teams that seeks to achieve recognition because the authentic authorities of Myanmar. It operates undercover or by members based mostly overseas.
“As this is a public revolution, all the citizens within entire Myanmar, revolt against the rule of the military terrorists led by Min Aung Hlaing in every corner of the country,” mentioned Duwa Lashi La, as he urged civil servants to go away authorities positions.
Over the previous eight months, the army has waged a bloody crackdown on nationwide protests and opposition to its rule. More than 1,000 individuals have been killed by safety forces and greater than 7,800 arrested, in line with advocacy group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
“We have to initiate a nationwide uprising in every village, town and city, in the entire country at the same time,” mentioned Duwa Lashi La. “We will remove Min Aung Hlaing and uproot dictatorship from Myanmar for good and be able to establish a peaceful federal democratic union that fully safeguards equality and is long-aspired by all the citizens.”
In his speech, Duwa Lashi La ordered ethnic armed teams to “immediately attack Min Aung Hlaing and the military council,” urging them to “fully control your lands.”
He additionally known as on personnel within the police, army and military-appointed authorities employees to hitch the resistance.
“This revolution is a just revolution. A necessary revolution for building a peaceful country and an establishment of a federal union,” he mentioned.
CNN has reached out to Myanmar’s army for remark.
“They are working to bring the international attention back,” mentioned Zaw Min Tun, in line with the Telegram channel of army-owned Myawaddy TV. He additionally accused media teams of “spreading fake news” on the state of affairs in Myanmar, in line with Reuters.
Maj. Gen. Nerdah Bo Mya, commander of the ethnic armed group Karen National Defense Organization, which operates in southeastern Karen state, mentioned it helps the NUG’s announcement.
“All the ethnic armed groups should coordinate and work together to fight and support,” he informed CNN. “Today is the beginning of the downfall of the military regime in Burma. D-Day is coming to Burma.”
International efforts to cease the violence in Myanmar have to date failed.
The NUG’s declaration comes two weeks earlier than the beginning of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 21 and an anticipated resolution on who will fill the Myanmar consultant to the UN’s seat: a member of the army council, or NUG.
“The NUG will be hoping to demonstrate that the regime does not have ‘effective control’ of Myanmar to undermine its chances of being seated at the UN,” mentioned Richard Horsey, senior adviser on Myanmar to the International Crisis Group. “Armed resistance to the coup has been intense for some time, but the NUG is looking to put its imprimatur on these efforts and further boost them.”
The extent of the NUG’s management and affect over the assorted individuals’s resistance teams is unclear, however there stays widespread public opposition within the nation to the coup.
“With a population determined to resist, and a regime determined to hang on at all costs, violent confrontation is likely to continue,” Horsey mentioned. “This also makes ASEAN’s efforts look all the more out of touch, with its special envoy yet to visit the country, and calling just three days ago for a ceasefire.”
CNN’s Chandler Thornton contributed to this report.