Myanmar’s civilian National Unity Government (NUG) has called on the international community to help it defeat the junta while leaders gathered for the United Nations General Assembly.
“We strongly urge the international community to support and help with more effective and practical efforts through military, political, economic and diplomatic means,” said the NUG’s statement on Friday.
It said the junta continues to disregard ASEAN’s five-point consensus and the UN Security Council’s resolution on Myanmar, which was adopted last December.
Both called for an end to violence while the regime has only ramped up its violence amid universal opposition to military rule.
Since the February 2021 coup, nearly 25,000 people have been detained, of whom over 19,000 remain in prison, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. At least 4,100 people have been confirmed killed by the junta but the death toll is likely to be much higher, the rights group reported.
The NUG said military rule meant the population faced various social disasters with about a third in need of urgent humanitarian aid.
It said most international humanitarian aid was controlled or hindered by the regime and did not reach those in need.
The civilian government said the generals view the people as dispensable and believe its soldiers can always behave with impunity.
The NUG said in its territory it has created a functioning judicial system to ensure the rule of law is respected and defense is provided through its people’s defense forces (PDFs).
It said its PDF troops are trained under a strict code of conduct, following international humanitarian law and the Geneva Convention with a zero-tolerance policy towards those who fail to meet the standards.
“One of the primary duties of the NUG and PDFs is to protect people’s lives and property,” it said.
The civilian government said it would work with the people to bring down the regime and build a new system of freedom and justice for all.
