Formation of Anti-Military National Unity Government in Myanmar... Accelerating the Establishment of Federal Army

Major Positions Filled by Ethnic Minorities... Suggesting Cooperation with Armed Groups

In Mandalay, a regional city in Myanmar, protesters on motorcycles raised a three-finger salute as a sign of resistance, condemning the military coup on the 15th (local time).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Minwoo Lee] Myanmar's pro-democracy camp has formed a National Unity Government to oppose the military junta that staged a coup. Accordingly, the establishment of a federal army is also expected to accelerate.

On the 16th, according to local media such as Myanmar Now and major foreign news outlets, Myanmar's pro-democracy camp announced the formation of a 'National Unity Government' that includes a large number of ethnic minority figures. Min Ko Naing, who led the 1988 pro-democracy student movement, explained through the pro-democracy camp's Facebook broadcast that day, "We are forming a National Unity Government consisting of last year's elected lawmakers, members of ethnic armed groups, and anti-government protesters."

The pro-democracy camp structured the National Unity Government in a parliamentary cabinet system. It set 11 ministers and 12 deputy ministers across 11 ministries.

Karen ethnic group member Man Win Kaing Tan, acting as vice president, and Kachin ethnic group member Duwa Lashi La, also vice president, will serve as interim prime minister and acting president, respectively.

The 'Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw' (CRPH), which functions as an interim government, appointed Dr. Sasa as the UN special envoy. He will concurrently serve as the Minister of International Cooperation and government spokesperson for the National Unity Government. Spokesperson Sasa is a relative.

President Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, who have been detained by the military since the coup, remain in their positions. Ei Thinzar Maung, who leads anti-military street protests in Yangon, became the Deputy Minister of Women, Youth, and Children Affairs.

Spokesperson Sasa said in a statement, "I am proud to announce the formation of the National Unity Government today, the last day of the Thingyan Festival and the day before the traditional Myanmar New Year," adding, "For the first time in Myanmar's history, we have a unified government." He continued, "The most important mission of the National Unity Government is to ultimately end the immense suffering inflicted on the people of Myanmar by the ruthless military regime," emphasizing, "We will continue efforts to bring all ethnic minorities into the National Unity Government to represent the great diversity and strength of Myanmar."

Seventy-five days after the military government took power through the coup on February 1, the pro-democracy camp formed an independent government including ethnic minority figures, marking a turning point in the coup crisis. In particular, by assigning key positions to the Karen and Kachin ethnic groups, it is expected that the process of establishing a federal army through cooperation with ethnic armed groups will accelerate. The Karen National Union (KNU) and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) are ethnic armed groups opposing the military junta since the coup.

Spokesperson Sasa also explained, "The formation of the National Unity Government was achieved through sincere compromise among elected lawmakers, leaders of ethnic armed organizations, party leaders, and civil society groups involved in the civil disobedience movement," indicating that the opinions of ethnic armed organizations were reflected in the cabinet formation process.

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