Myanmar’s Junta Increases to Cooperate with Armed Ethnic Groups

Jakarta –

Myanmar military junta deepen the alliance to find support. Recently, a number of senior military officials Myanmar recently had a meeting with two armed ethnic groups, namely Wa and Shan, who are considered the strongest in Myanmar.

As reported by local Myanmar media, The Irrawady, Sunday (11/4/2021) a number of Military Peace Committee members went to the Matmanseng and Wan Hai areas, in northern Shan State on April 7 and 8. The visit was led by Lieutenant General Yar Pyae and Lieutenant General Aung Zaw Aye, commanders of the Special Operations Bureau.

They met officials from the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP).

Apart from having the aim of holding peace discussions, said the visit was also to encourage officials from armed groups to maintain relations with the military and explain to them the reasons behind the February 1 coup.

Of the 18 armed ethnic groups in Myanmar, UWSA is the most powerful. They signed a ceasefire with the Myanmar government in 1989. UWSA is one of the armed ethnic groups that did not react to the February 1 coup.

Earlier, 10 of the 18 ethnic gunmen signed a National Armistice Agreement with the government and have condemned the military coup and the killing of civilian protesters.

The Myanmar junta’s visit comes after other strongly armed ethnic groups such as the Kachin Independence Army and the Karen National Union recently launched attacks on military forces to show their opposition to the killing of protesters.

Visit to UWSA and SSPP

During the meeting, a spokesman for UWSA, U Nyi Rang, said he could not provide details of the meeting with the junta because he was not present.

“To my knowledge, they explained why the coup happened,” he said.

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