Censure The Military Coup, Two Armed Groups In Myanmar Ready To Defend The People

Supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD (Source: Antara)

JAKARTA - Two armed groups who signed the National Armistice Agreement (NCA) on 15 October 2015, The Karen National Union (KNU) and the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), condemned the coup carried out by the Myanmar military on February 1.

The KNU, Myanmar's oldest armed ethnic group with considerable political-military influence among NCA signatories, called on the Tatmadaw (military) to release all detained unconditionally, as a gesture of national reconciliation.

"Including government leaders and democracy activists. Solving all political problems peacefully through dialogue", exclaimed the KNU in a statement as reported by The Irrawaddy.

In fact, the KNU said it would support the people in establishing a federal union while protecting the democratic transition.

"The struggle for power by Tatmadaw greatly hampers the transition to democracy and shows a lack of seriousness in the process of solving political problems through political means and greatly affects the future of a country that is already faced with a mountain of challenges", said KNU.

Meanwhile, the Loi Tai Leng-based RCSS on the Myanmar-Thailand border has also expressed opposition to the military coup and the detention of the democratically elected government.

"We are against the coup. RCSS wants federalism and democratic norms. The overthrow of a democratically elected government is against democratic norms. We are against it, the coup destroys mutual trust and destroys the peace process", said RCSS spokesman Major Kham San, as reported by The Irrawaddy.

He further said that the Tatmadaw power struggle dashed hopes of democracy and federalism. In fact, Tatmadaw stated that he would comply with the NCA and the peace process.

"We stopped firing with the Tatmadaw, but talks must be held with the government. This is a political route to agreeing to the Union Accord in parliament. It is the government holding the talks. How can we hold talks now that the government is overthrown ?", he said.

For information, the NCA was signed by the Government of Myanmar with representatives of armed ethnic groups in Myanmar. A total of 10 ethnic armed groups signed the NCA on 15 October 2015, out of a total of 15 ethnic groups invited by the Myanmar Government.

Those who signed were ABSDF, Arakan Liberation Party, Chin National Front, DKBA-5, KNU, KNU/KNLA Peace Council, Lahu Democratic Union, New Mon State Party, Pa-O National Liberation Army, and RCSS.