Myanmar: Military Vows Decisive Action Against Armed Resistance

Facts

• In a rare speech given during the annual Armed Forces Day parade, Myanmar's junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on Monday pledged to crush armed resistance fighting against the military rule.¹
• The army chief also accused resistance groups of committing "terror acts," and underlined his dedication to quelling dissent. Myanmar has descended into civil war since the military took over in 2021.²
• Over 3.1K people are estimated to have been killed in the crackdown on opposition amid allegations that the junta has committed war crimes including indiscriminate killing of civilians. Online media reported that at least three bombs exploded in the country's biggest city, Yangon, on Monday morning.³
• Meanwhile, clashes between military troops and local resistance forces in the southeast Karen State have been reported since Saturday, with at least two civilians killed and several others injured.⁴
• Min Aung Hlaing further called for the international community to support the government to restore democracy in Myanmar, instead of backing the shadow National Unity Government (NUG). An election, which the opposition claims to be a sham, is set to take place in August.⁵
• This comes days after the US State Dept. and Treasury imposed a new round of sanctions against the junta for allegedly causing "pain and suffering" to the people of Myanmar.⁶

Sources: ¹Al Jazeera, ²BBC News, ³DW, ⁴The Irrawaddy, ⁵Reuters, and ⁶CNN.

Narratives

• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Global Times. Regional stakeholders such as ASEAN and China have sought to smooth things over to ensure peace and stability in Myanmar, but Western support for armed resistance and political extremist action have bolstered pro-NUG militants to descend the country into civil war. Myanmar is in chaos, and the NUG's calls for revolution will only make it worse.
• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by The Diplomat. The UN and ASEAN have tried and failed to change the military junta's bloodthirsty behavior that has caused thousands of deaths and atrocious crimes against humanity since its disastrous coup in February 2021. Since there will be no sustainable peace while this illegitimate, corrupt regime remains in power, it is time for the US and its allies to unequivocally support the popular resistance movement.