Summary of News
- NUG’s Defence Minister asserts that every PDF comrade is now carrying improvised firearms
- Union Minister Dr. Zaw Wai Soe says that there is no reason the military, which is deteriorating day by day, cannot be defeated
- Human Rights Minister U Aung Myo Min will deliver public lectures at Australian universities
- Lt. Col. (Ret.) U.S. Army and Professor at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies visits the National Unity Government Office in Washington, D.C.
- Justice For Myanmar (JFM) reveals the ASEAN has allowed the Myanmar Navy Chief, who has been sanctioned by the EU, to attend the ASEAN Navy Chief Meeting (ANCM)
- In Myaing Township, military-backed Pyu Saw Htee militia are attacked several times, resulting in casualties
1. NUG’s Defence Minister asserts that every PDF comrade is now carrying improvised firearms
In an interview in May, Defence Minister U Yee Mon stated that every soldier of the People’s Defence Force is now carrying improvised firearms.
“As for real arms, we have not yet been able to equip every soldier. However, every soldier can now carry and use the firearms we produce ourselves. The military weapons that we produce ourselves have now reached a certain level of quality,” Minister U Yee Mon said.
The Ministry of Defence has now established more than 300 battalions and columns under the People’s Defence Force (PDF) in addition to People’s Defence Organisations (PDO/Pa-Ka-Fa), which function as People’s Militia, in over 250 townships.
From January to April 2023, the confirmed military operations included 193 instances of drone attacks, 44 military outpost captures, 26 significant military target attacks, and numerous skirmishes, resulting in 3,948 enemy kills and 1,760 injuries, according to the Ministry of Defence.
2. Union Minister Dr. Zaw Wai Soe says that there is no reason the military, which is deteriorating day by day, cannot be defeated
Union Minister Dr. Zaw Wai Soe remarked the following at the fundraising ceremony “From the Victory of Yaw Na Ka to the Spring Victory” held on May 11:
“In this revolution, we are confident that we will prevail. There is no reason we cannot defeat the military, which is deteriorating day by day. Therefore, if we are disciplined, have strong enthusiasm, and march forward hand in hand, today’s revolution might be finished at a faster pace than we anticipated.”
On September 7, 2021, the National Unity Government (NUG) announced the People’s Defensive War against the military regime. The NUG designated 2023 as the year of decision, and is accelerating its military pace.
3. Human Rights Minister U Aung Myo Min will deliver public lectures at Australian universities
According to the Ministry of Human Rights of the National Unity Government, Union Minister U Aung Myo Min, who is arriving in Australia, will deliver public lectures at Australian universities.
Union Minister U Aung Myo Min will deliver public lectures at the Australian National University on May 12, Melbourne University on May 30, and Sydney University on June 2.
U Aung Myo Min, Union Minister for Human Rights of the National Unity Government, began his work trip to Australia on May 8 as a representative of the National Unity Government.
4. Lt. Col. (Ret.) U.S. Army and Professor at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies visits the National Unity Government Office in Washington, D.C.
According to the National Unity Government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office in Washington, D.C., Dr. Miemie Winn Byrd, a professor at the Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies and a retired lieutenant colonel of the United States Army, visited the office on May 10, and was greeted by U Moe Zaw Oo, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs.
U Htin Linn Aung, Union Minister of Communications, Information and Technology, also attended the meeting and discussed the current situation in Myanmar.
It is also stated that representatives and religious leaders of various ethnic groups, leading activists in Rohingya and women’s affairs, representatives of Myanmar communities, fundraisers, and representatives of youth organisations also presented at the meeting and participated in the discussions.
5. Justice For Myanmar (JFM) reveals the ASEAN has allowed the Myanmar Navy Chief, who has been sanctioned by the EU, to attend the ASEAN Navy Chief Meeting (ANCM)
On May 11, the Justice For Myanmar (JFM) released a statement stating, “Indonesia’s ‘quiet diplomacy’ = rewarding war criminals with regional leadership positions.”
During this week, the junta’s Commander-in-Chief (Navy) attended the ASEAN Navy Chiefs’ Meeting 2023 (17th ANCM) hosted by the Philippine Navy and was handed the hosting for 2024 (18th ANCM).
The JFM stated that Moe Aung is sanctioned by the EU, while quoting the EU’s statement, “Under his authority and in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport and Communication, soldiers and weapons were transported by boats/ships to the northern part of the country by waterway” and “He is also responsible for numerous human rights violations.”
The Myanmar Navy took part in the genocide against the Rohingya that occurred in 2017 and sent naval boats carrying light infantry troops to northern Arakan State to launch their attacks against Rohingya villagers, according to the JFM.
“As the current chair of the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM), Indonesia is supporting the Myanmar military to head regional military bodies, legitimising and emboldening war criminals like Moe Aung. Through ADMM, ASEAN has provided the Myanmar military with access to diplomatic, military, technical, financial and intelligence support, as it commits atrocity crimes with total impunity,” the JFM stated.
6. In Myaing Township, military-backed Pyu Saw Htee militia are attacked several times, resulting in casualties
On May 12, the Myaing Garuda PDF claimed that it and allies had launched attacks on the military-backed Pyu Saw Htee militia in Myaing Township, Magway.
It states, “On May 11 at around 7:30 a.m., the defence forces launched a mine attack on a group of Pyu Saw Htee militia from Thayet Kan village who were concealing near the south of their camp. Pyu Saw Htee member Ko Latt died instantly from the attack, and several others were injured.”
Then, the allied PDF forces launched another mine attack on a vehicle carrying Thayet Kan Pyu Saw Htee members to Pakokku to bring rations, reportedly destroying the vehicle and injuring the Pyu Saw Htee members on board.
The attacks were said to have been carried out jointly by Squadron 1 and 2 (Myaing Garuda PDF) of the Myaing Township People’s Defence Group (Pa-Ka-Fa), the Kamma Defence Force (KMDF), the Light Guerrilla Force, the Wheeled Bird Force, the TYK Guerrilla Force, and the Ayeyar Western Forces.
#Credit : Radio NUG
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