Myanmar's Shadow Government Leader: 2K Dead Fighting Junta

Facts

• The head of Myanmar's parallel civilian National Unity Government (NUG), Duwa Lashi La, told the ReutersNEXT conference on Thursday that at least 2K pro-democracy fighters have been killed confronting Myanmar's military junta. He pleaded for allies to provide military assistance.
• Duwa Lashi La claimed that pro-NUG armed groups, known as People's Defense Forces, have killed some 20K junta troops but are out-gunned by an army allegedly equipped by China, India, and Russia.
• He also called for help from the people of Myanmar and "countries with humanitarian sense" in an interview published on Wednesday, stressing that "our resistance soldiers in large numbers do not have enough food, shelter, medicine and healthcare and technologies."
• This comes as General Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief of Myanmar's military, received senior Russian defense officials in Naypyitaw on Tuesday to discuss cooperation between the two armed forces, including counter-terrorism efforts.
• The NUG, which was formed in April last year and depends largely on donations from the public to fund its operations — as it doesn't receive material support from the international community — has been designated a terrorist organization by the military junta.
• Western nations have expressed support for the NUG and sanctioned military commanders and companies, but have argued that the regional Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) — which has a non-interference convention — is best placed to solve the crisis.

Sources: Reuters, RFA, GNLM, and Irrawaddy.

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 on the brink of a civil war. Myanmar is in chaos, and the NUG's calls for revolution can 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 more than 2.4K civilian deaths and atrocious crimes against humanity since its disastrous coup in February 2021. Since 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.