Junta’s opponents form national unity government in Myanmar

OPPONENTS OF Myanmar’s ruling junta have formed an interim national unity government with members of Aung San Suu Kyi’s ousted cabinet and major ethnic minority groups.

The move comes on the eve of a diplomatic initiative to solve Myanmar’s crisis by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which is expected to hold a summit next week.

A violent crackdown by the junta has failed to stem opposition to the coup and as the army has spread the fight to ethnic minorities in border areas, some Asean members believe the crisis threatens regional stability.

Opponents of the coup have been seeking an alliance with ethnic-minority groups as a way of strengthening their resistance.

The minorities have for decades kept up on-again, off-again armed struggles for greater autonomy in the borderlands.

While it was not clear if the minority political organisations had formally joined an alliance, the appointment of prominent personalities from their ranks showed a commitment to a joint struggle against the military, which is certain to boost morale to the anti-coup cause.

Security forces have killed at least 726 protesters and bystanders since the February 1 military takeover.

The National Unity Government is nominally an upgrade from what had been called the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, which was formed shortly after the coup by elected politicians who were barred by the army from taking their seats.

The junta declared the CRPH an illegal organisation and issued arrest warrants for its leading members.

A video posted yesterday on social media showed veteran activist Min Ko Naing announcing the formation of the new body.

He was a leader of the failed 1988 uprising against a previous military dictatorship.