Myanmar military calls shadow government a “terrorist” group Human Rights News

A group of incumbent lawmakers formed a “National Union Government” to oppose the military government.

Myanmar’s military authorities have designated a group of lawmakers in charge of the shadow government as “terrorists” and blamed it for bombings, fires and killings, state-controlled media said on Saturday.

Since the military seized power in a February 1 coup, arresting and ousting civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a national uprising has refused to back down demands for a return to democracy.

The bombings are reported daily and local militias have been set up to fight the army while anti-protest militias have remained throughout the Southeast Asian country and strikes by coup leaders have halted the economy.

The National Unity Government (NUG), which operates covertly and describes the army as a “terrorist force,” announced this week People’s Defense Force to protect his supporters from violence caused by the military government.

MRTV Myanmar state television announced that the NUG, a committee of parliamentarians known as CRPH, and the new force will now cover anti-terrorism laws.

“Their actions caused so much terrorism in many places,” the announcement said.

“There were bombs, fires, murders and threats to destroy the government’s administrative mechanism,” the announcement says.

Meanwhile, protesters against the coup went against the military government across the country on Saturday.

At least 774 civilians have been killed by security forces and 3,778 are in jail, according to the Activist Political Prisoners Association.

The military government is debating these figures and says at least two dozen members of the security forces have been killed in protests.

Clashes have also erupted on the outskirts of Myanmar with ethnic armies that have been fighting for decades, some of which have gathered behind protesters. State television said the army had marched against the Kachin Independence Army in northern Myanmar, but there was no independent confirmation.

In western Myanmar, the newly formed Chinland Defense Force said it had overrun an army camp. The military did not comment on the report.

The military has defended its defense of power, alleging fraud in the November election, in a landslide won by Aung San Suu Kyi’s party.

Potential targets for journalists

Anyone who speaks to groups with new appointments (including journalists) can file a complaint under anti-terrorism laws.

The Arakan Army – a rebel group that clashed with the military in the conflict-ridden state of Rakhine – was named last year, and a journalist interviewed by a senior representative was arrested.

He faced allegations of “terrorism,” and was sentenced to three years in prison for life.

While he was soon released, the use of the anti-terrorism law against journalists sparked fears of tightening the rope in the country’s turbulent press.

Dozens of journalists have been arrested as a result of the coup, the media has been shut down and several broadcasting licenses for some television stations have been revoked – placing the country under the shadow of information.