Leader of ethnic anti-junta groups in Myanmar calls for Japan’s help for democracy and humanitarian aid

The leader of an ethnic group fighting Myanmar’s national army expressed hope Wednesday during an interview with The Japan News and The Yomiuri Shimbun that Japan would help his country establish a federal democracy and create a constitution.

Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win, chairman of the Karen National Union (KNU), also called on the Japanese government and people to help the internally displaced people in Myanmar, whose numbers have reached 3 million due to the civil war.

“We want to end military rule and move to a better nation based on federalism,” the KNU leader said in the interview in Tokyo. Also participating in the interview were the National Unity Government (NUG), a pro-democracy organization that sees itself as the country’s legitimate government, Health Minister Zaw Wai Soe and Chin National Front (CNF) Secretary General Salai Thla Hey.

According to the NGG, pro-democracy forces control about 65% of the country. “We are putting military pressure on the army,” Zaw Wai Soe said.

“We need external pressure from international society,” he said, urging Japan to call on its allies and other countries to increase pressure.

The military has been in power in Myanmar since the 2021 coup. However, starting last fall, ethnic groups opposed to the military regime have stepped up counterattacks, and there are reports that the army has been pushed back. Last month, a coalition of anti-junta forces led by KNU temporarily seized Myawaddy, a town on the border with Thailand.

“The national army is clearly weakening,” the KNU chairman said.

Humanitarian aid activities have stalled since fighting intensified, and there are food shortages and other problems. According to the NUG, more than 3 million people in Myanmar were estimated to have been displaced as of May 6.

The KNU chairman said he met an official from Japan’s Foreign Ministry during his trip. He asked for support for the daily lives of internally displaced persons.

Myanmar’s military overthrew the democratic government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup in February 2021. Since then, about 5,000 people, including more than 700 children, have been killed as a result of the military and police crackdown, according to the NUG.

The KNU chairman said a “transitional justice mechanism” needed to be created to ensure the military is held accountable for the crimes it committed against civilians.

The junta insists it plans to hold elections at some point in the future when there is peace and stability, without giving a clear date, and that the military will only hold temporary power.