Voices from Myanmar Rebel Groups Call for "Formation of Federal Army with Democratic Forces"... Will the Civil War Escalate?

Karen Resistance "Establishing Federal Army Based on Existing Resistance Organizations Is Practical"

Karen National Union (KNU), an ethnic minority rebel group in Myanmar
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Voices have emerged from the Karen National Union (KNU), a Karen ethnic minority rebel group in Myanmar, calling for the establishment of a federal army allied with the democratic camp to oppose the military junta. Attention is focused on whether this will bolster the democratic camp's push to create a rebel army. There are concerns that if a rebel army formed by the alliance of the democratic camp and ethnic minorities is organized, a civil war could break out, potentially prolonging the Myanmar crisis.

According to local media The Irrawaddy on the 7th, Pado Man Man, spokesperson for the KNU's 5th Brigade, stated, "It may be practical to establish a federal army based on the existing armed rebel groups operating throughout Myanmar."

The KNU 5th Brigade seized two Myanmar military outposts in the Papun area of Karen State after the military coup and cut off food supplies to the Myanmar army stationed there.

Spokesperson Man said, "Each ethnic minority rebel group has its own political background, clear political goals, and controlled territories," adding, "It would be practical to establish a federal army based on the current ethnic armed organizations." He continued, "We must protect the people and repel the military junta's injustice and violence," and added, "The federal army could be established by adopting a new constitution or based on the existing armed groups."

On the 6th (local time), citizens in Mandalay, Myanmar, participated in a street protest condemning the military junta, showing three fingers as a sign of protest. Mandalay (Myanmar) = EPA Photo

Man also commented on the 'Federal Democratic Charter' proposed by the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), the interim government of the democratic camp, saying, "We are somewhat satisfied with this charter for establishing a federal union," but pointed out doubts about how obstacles will be overcome in implementing the charter.

The Federal Democratic Charter is a provisional constitution of the National Unity Government (NUG) publicly released by the CRPH on the 1st, created to replace the constitution enacted by the military junta. The charter includes provisions for dismantling military dictatorship, building a federal democratic union, and launching a civilian government.

The charter declares that those elected in last year's general election, political parties, civil disobedience movement (CDM) participants, the general strike committee, coup resistance forces, and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) will cooperate and participate to establish a democratic government. It also states efforts to respond to the broader autonomy demands long advocated by many ethnic minorities.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.