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Call for ‘defensive war’ against Myanmar’s junta sparks alarm, even as young citizens cautiously back revolt
- The international community has expressed concerns over the declaration, including the difficulty of distributing assistance during a bloody civil war
- While the country’s youth have welcomed the chance to fight back, they remain fearful of the bloodbath that could follow
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The international community has expressed alarm over the declaration of a “people’s defensive war” by Myanmar’s anti-junta forces, even as interviews with citizens weary of the military’s brutality suggest there is support on the ground for the revolt.
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Tuesday’s call to arms by Duwa Lashi La, the acting president of the National Unity Government (NUG), comes just days before a United Nations committee makes a highly awaited decision on who can represent Myanmar at the world body.
The declaration of war also coincides with confusion over whether junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has accepted a proposal for a four-month ceasefire made by Erywan Yusof, the special envoy from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to the violence-wracked nation.
Erywan, the de facto top diplomat of Brunei, told the Kyodo news agency that a ceasefire had been agreed, but a junta representative on Monday told The Irrawaddy that this was not the case.
Indonesia was among the nations to issue an immediate response to Duwa Lashi La’s call for a defensive war, which was made via a Facebook video.
Teuku Faizasyah, Jakarta’s foreign ministry spokesman, urged all parties to “refrain from open conflict”, adding that Asean was finalising preparations to distribute humanitarian assistance.
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“This assistance cannot be distributed if there is no sound and secure situation on the ground,” he said.
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