Narinjara News, March 27, 2023

U Phay Than, a veteran Rakhine politician, has asserted that despite theMilitary Council’s claims to root out the Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs)that back the National Unity Government (NUG) and the People’s Defense Forces(PDF), they are actually struggling to hang onto their own bases.

U Phay Than shared his views with Narinjara regarding the speech made byJunta Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing during the 78th Armed Forces Dayparade in Naypyidaw on March 27th. The General had stated that he would takedecisive action against the Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) supporting theNUG and PDF.

“ Their struggle against ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) has been goingon for 70 years, but victory has eluded them. Now in addition to the EAOs,there are Bamar resistance groups such as the PDF and NUG. So there is no waythat what the Junta Chief said will come true. Instead he must abandon the ideaof defeating the EAOs and concentrate on defending his camps and bases withutmost determination, to prevent them from being captured”, he said.

At a lavish parade held in Naypyidaw, Min Aung Hlaing announced that hewould take decisive action against some EAOs who were supporting the NUG andPDF.

“As per the Five-Point Road Map of the government, our Tatmadaw will put aneffort into achieving full law enforcement and tranquility across the Union toensure the socioeconomic security of all citizens. While pursuing these goals,I would like to make clear that lawful actions will be decisively taken againstNUG and the terrorist organizations, and some EAOs sponsoring terrorism”, hedeclared. The Military Council has labelled NUG and PDF as terroristorganizations.

U Phay Than remained skeptical of Min Aung Hlaing’s proposal, believing itto be driven fear and apprehension over the growing unity between the PDF and EAO, ratherthan real situation.

“There are two types of EAOs, those that fight against the MilitaryCouncil, and those that cooperate with them. The EAOs that oppose the MilitaryCouncil are powerful organizations that cannot be defeated easily. Despite years of fighting against them, victoryseems unattainable. It is difficult to imagine how the Military Council couldtake action against such powerful EAOs. He said these words only becausehe was afraid that EAOs and PDFs would move closer and closer ”, U Phay Thantold Narinjara.

In February 2021, the Military Council staged a coup, overthrowing thedemocratically elected National League for Democracy (NLD) government that hadwon the 2020 General Election. Since then, the Military Council has faced fierce armed resistance fromopposition forces, including the NUG and affiliated PDF, as part of the SpringRevolution movement that have emerged across the country.

In his speech, Min Aung Hlaing added that the opposition forces fiercelyresisting the Military Council’s seizure of power are organizations that seek to destroy thecountry.

“Those attacks are the act of conspiracy for the devastation of the countryby terrorist organizations including PDF ignited from NUG formed with anintention for political concerns and some terrorist-supporting EAOs”, heaccused.

The Junta Chief issued such warning after several EAOs had providedmilitary assistance to the PDFs, and together they have emerged as a formidablerival to post- coup military Junta.