Women carry flower pots while participating in a protest against the military coup in Yangon, Myanmar, April 13, 2021. REUTERS / Stringer
Opponents of the junta in Myanmar on Friday announced a government of national unity, which includes resigned members of parliament and leaders of anti-coup protests and ethnic minorities, saying their goal is to end military rule and restore democracy.
Myanmar is in turmoil since the February 1 coup that ousted a civilian government led by democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi, who had held power for five years and began his second term following a landslide election victory in November.
People took to the streets every day to demand the restoration of democracy, defying the repression of the security forces in which more than 700 people were killed, according to a monitoring group.
At the same time, political leaders, including deputies fired from Suu Kyi’s party, have tried to organize to show the country and the outside world that they and not the generals are the legitimate political authority.
“Please welcome the people’s government,” veteran democracy activist Min Ko Naing said in a 10-minute video announcing the formation of the National Unity Government.
While establishing few positions, Min Ko Naing said the will of the people is the priority of the unity government, while acknowledging the scale of the task at hand.
“We’re trying to get this out of the roots, so we have to sacrifice a lot,” he said, referring to the reed.
A spokesman for the junta could not be reached for comment.
The generals justified their takeover with allegations of fraud in the November elections won by Suu Kyi’s party, although the electoral commission rejected the objections.
One of the main goals of the unity government will be to gain international support and recognition.
His international cooperation minister, Dr. Sasa, told reporters that the United States and Britain recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the legitimate leader of that country.
“We are the democratically elected leaders of Myanmar,” said Sasa, who bears one name. “So if the free and democratic world rejects us, it means that they reject democracy.”
International pressure has also increased on the Myanmar army, especially from Western governments that have imposed limited sanctions, although the generals have a long history of rejecting what they consider an outside intervention. Read more
The unity government has published a list of incumbents, including members of ethnic minorities and protest leaders, highlighting the unity of purpose between the pro-democracy movement and minority communities seeking autonomy, some of which have fought the central government for dozens. year old.
Suu Kyi, who has been in detention since the coup, was listed as a state councilor, a position she held in government.
The only known communication she had with the outside world since the coup was monitored by video calls with her lawyers. A spokesman for Democratic politicians said that while they could not inform her about the unity government, he was sure she was aware of what was happening.
“SERIOUSLY SILENT”
Sasa told Reuters that the goal was to end the violence, restore democracy and build a “federal democratic union.” The military, while pursuing the idea of federalism, has long been seen as the basic power that holds the country together.
The government’s leaders have said they intend to form a federal army and are in talks with ethnic minority forces.
The Special Advisory Council for Myanmar, a group of international experts, including former United Nations officials, welcomed the creation of the NUG as historic and said it was the legitimate government.
As politicians announced the unity government, other opponents of the military government noticed a “silent strike” that remained at home to mourn those killed or blackmailed in small marches in half a dozen cities and towns, media reported.
The streets of Yangon’s main city were largely deserted, residents said.
There were no immediate reports of violence during the protests on Friday, but six people were killed in a shootout between soldiers and a “local group” in the central city of Kani the day before, Myanmar Now reported.
The military also garnered criticism. Two prominent protest organizers were arrested on Thursday.
The turmoil and the prospect of growing conflict have alarmed Myanmar’s Southeast Asian neighbors, who have tried to encourage talks between rival parties.
The leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes Myanmar, will meet in Indonesia on April 24 to discuss the situation, Thai and Indonesian media reported.
Min Aung Hlaing, the junta leader’s senior general, was scheduled to attend, a Thai radio station said, but the Jakarta Post said it had not been confirmed whether junta or former government representatives would be included at the summit.
Sasa said ASEAN should not invite “chief killer” Min Aung Hlaing.
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