The Ukrainian people and Myanmar’s pro-democracy militias are all fighting for freedom and giving their lives, but those facing Myanmar’s well-equipped army need more than international solidarity, said Yee Mon, the Minister of defense of the National Unity Government (NUG).
“The international community’s stance in favor of Myanmar is a moral support for us and we are grateful for that. We will be much more grateful if we get physical support such as arms and funds,” he said in a statement. handwritten remarks provided Reuters.
“With this support, we will be able to end the revolution sooner, minimizing the loss of people and their property.”
Western allies have armed fighters in Ukraine to resist the invasion from Russia, which Moscow calls a “special operation”. Myanmar has been in turmoil since a coup early last year and the United Nations says more than 560,000 people have been displaced by the fighting.
The NUG, an alliance of anti-junta groups, declared a “people’s defensive war” in the countryside last year to stifle the army’s efforts to consolidate power after months of brutal suppression. pro-democracy demonstrations. The junta declared the NUG a “terrorist”.
The militias are mostly lightly armed, using crude rifles and improvised explosives to fight off the well-equipped army, which has been accused by the United Nations of using heavy weapons and airstrikes against civilian populations.
A junta spokesman did not respond to calls seeking comment.
The European Union Yangon delegation did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Yee Mon’s appeal.
A State Department spokesperson said in an email that the United States continues to press the junta to end the violence and is working with partners to restore the country’s path to democracy. , but that they did not provide weapons or any form of military support to a group, individual or organization.
Yee Mon’s remarks come days after NUG Foreign Minister Zin Mar Aung held meetings with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah in the United States. , on the sidelines of an international summit.