A senior member of Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG), which opposes the military junta, emphasized the growing success of resistance forces on the battlefield and urged Japan to increase pressure on the junta during a meeting with Japanese media in Tokyo on Friday.

The NUG, which claims to be the legitimate government of Myanmar, is seeking international support to oust the military regime. Tin Tun Naing, the NUG's 53-year-old Union Minister of Planning, Finance, and Investment, traveled to Japan with this mission in mind.

He asserted that resistance forces now control around 70% of Myanmar, including areas where they hold partial influence.

According to Tin Tun Naing, the NUG and its allied ethnic groups believe the junta is nearing collapse, as the morale among its soldiers has plummeted, leading to increasing defections. The country has also been experiencing severe economic instability since the military took power.

Since the military coup in February 2021, Myanmar has been under military control. However, since last autumn, resistance forces, including ethnic groups opposed to the regime and the NUG’s armed wing, the People’s Defense Forces (PDF), have intensified their attacks, reportedly forcing the military to retreat.

Tin Tun Naing mentioned that the NUG is closely collaborating with several ethnic minority groups to coordinate the sharing of funds and supplies. The NUG has also been raising funds by issuing bonds, and plans to launch "victory bonds" in partnership with these ethnic groups.

He further disclosed that the military junta has been attempting to persuade Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's detained leader and head of the National League for Democracy, to halt the PDF's resistance. The junta has allegedly offered her a position in an interim government they plan to establish.

“We have confirmed that she has not responded to the military regime’s persuasion,” Tin Tun Naing stated.

He also noted that the resistance movement enjoys widespread public support, as evidenced by ongoing protests and boycotts of products from military-controlled companies.

“This is not a civil war; it’s a revolution,” he said, urging Japan to recognize the situation and support the movement. “The revolution is close to achieving its goal.”

Tin Tun Naing specifically called on Japan to encourage the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international body that monitors efforts against money laundering and terrorist financing, to impose financial sanctions on Myanmar’s military regime at its upcoming meeting in October. The FATF had already placed Myanmar on its "blacklist" in October 2022 due to the country’s inadequate countermeasures.

When asked whether he had met with Japanese government officials during his visit, Tin Tun Naing declined to comment.

BOB Post