Military spokesman Zaw Min Tun dismissed the NUG’s call for a mutiny. It was an try to gain international attention and recognition on the UN General Assembly later this month and would fail, he said.
Some opponents of military rule have formed armed groups under the banner of the People’s Defense Forces and have forged alliances with some ethnic militias which have long viewed the Myanmar army as their enemy.
Declaring a state of emergency, Duwa Lashi La called for “revolt against the rule of military terrorists led by Min Aung Hlaing in every corner of the country.”
The junta itself has designated the NUG (made up of members in exile or in hiding) and the People’s Defense Forces as terrorist groups.
Military-appointed administrators should “immediately leave their posts,” Duwa Lashi La said in his 14-point speech, calling on members of the safety forces to affix them and ethnic forces in border areas to attack the military.
“We must initiate a nationwide uprising in every village, town and city across the country at the same time,” Duwa Lashi La said.
Army spokesman Zaw Min Tun said the NUG had tried to destabilize the country, including by disrupting the country’s coronavirus vaccination program, but its efforts were headed for failure.
“They are working to restore international attention,” Zaw Min Tun said, in line with the military’s Telegram channel Myawaddy TV. He also accused media groups of “spreading fake news” in regards to the situation in Myanmar.
Shortly after the February coup, a civil disobedience movement arose geared toward weakening the military government.
Hastily formed militias have also engaged in regular skirmishes with the military, although they often operate independently. It can be unclear to what extent the ethnic forces which were fighting the military for many years are coordinated.
The NUG announcement on Tuesday apparently sparked panic buying. A social media video showed what it described as a rush to purchase basic necessities at a supermarket within the country’s business hub, Yangon.
There were also reports of fighting within the border areas, including between the military and Karen National Union (KNU) soldiers, in line with a post on social media by the Karen Information Center.
Anti-military street protests also took place within the Dawei region in southern Myanmar and in Kalay in Sagaing region, in line with photos published by the Myanmar Now news website.
The escalation comes because the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) conducts diplomatic efforts to finish the violence and establish dialogue between military leaders and their adversaries.
A professional-democracy activist and NUG member said the junta couldn’t be trusted to honour such an agreement.
An army spokesman couldn’t be reached for comment.
