Myanmar: 2000 pro-democracy fighters killed by junta, says democracy leader

The leader of Myanmar’s shadow government has called on allies to provide military aid as around 2,000 pro-democracy fighters have been killed in the midst of resistance to the military junta. The appeal comes amidst political unrest in Myanmar since the generals seized power in a coup in February last year.

Speaking to the Reuters NEXT conference from an undisclosed location Thursday, the National Unity Government’s acting president Duwa Lashi La said that at least 2,000 pro-democracy fighters were killed while fighting the military junta, along with 2,500 civilians were killed by the junta elsewhere. However, La also said that the opposition was able to take down at least 20,000 junta troops.

The acting leader said that he hopes Myanmar’s pro-democracy opposition could also receive the same support from the United States and the European Union, noting that if the opposition possessed such weapons given to Ukraine, they would win the battle in six months.

“If we had anti-aircraft weapons, safe to say that we could win in six months,” said La. “If only we received the same support that Ukraine receives from the US and EU, the sufferings of the people who are being slaughtered would cease at once.”

Western nations have voiced support for the shadow government and sanctioned the junta leaders. However, they have stopped short of providing military aid for the opposition and have said that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN would be in a better position to intervene in the crisis.

Last month, ASEAN issued a warning to the junta to make progress on the peace plan agreed upon by the military shortly after the generals seized power or risk being barred from the bloc’s meetings. The junta has refused to engage with the shadow government, which has widespread support.

On Monday, Japanese filmmaker Toru Kubota, who was detained by the junta and eventually freed under the mass amnesty program, recalled his experience to reporters in Tokyo. Kubota described the time he was detained as “hell” while also urging Tokyo to take a stronger stance against the junta’s human rights abuses in the country.