Junta in Myanmar threatens insurgents with countermeasures

MYanmar’s military ruler has threatened the resistance movement in the Southeast Asian country with harsh countermeasures. Speaking on the annual Armed Forces Day during a parade in the capital Naypyidaw, general and coup leader Min Aung Hlaing condemned the “acts of terrorism” by numerous insurgent militias and ethnic minority rebel armies. He indirectly rejected an early election date by declaring “calm and stability” to be essential prerequisites for an election.

A few weeks ago, the military regime declared a state of emergency Myanmar extended by another six months, which also pushed back the date for the announced election. The step also included the admission that many parts of the country are not under the control of the military and therefore no elections can be held there. Since the army overthrew the government under Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, 2021 and took power, there have been fighting in the minority-inhabited border regions and in the Buddhist heartland.

The military wants to show their strength with the parade, which featured rocket launchers, tanks and fighter jets. Last week, the United States imposed new sanctions on individuals and companies involved in supplying fuel to the military. Myanmar’s air force was allegedly involved in attacks on civilians. According to a human rights organization, almost 3,200 members of the pro-democracy movement have been killed by the military. Almost 17,000 political prisoners are in prison.