Myanmar junta can鈥檛 beat rebels, should restore democracy鈥擴S diplomat

By: 3 years ago

Myanmar鈥檚 junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who ousted the elected government in a coup on February 1, 2021, presides over an army parade on Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, March 27, 2021. REUTERS

BANGKOK 鈥� Myanmar鈥檚 junta likely cannot to defeat the rebels fighting its rule and should restore democracy after seizing power last year, a senior U.S. diplomat said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to see today how they could realistically think they can win,鈥� said Derek Chollet, the State Department counsellor. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e losing territory. Their military is taking serious losses.鈥�

Speaking to Reuters and another journalist in Bangkok on Friday, Chollet said the military government is becoming isolated not only internationally but also at home and should end the fight and return to democracy.

The junta overthrew the elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and has since used deadly force and mass arrests to suppress demonstrations.

Civilians have taken up arms to fight police and soldiers, answering a call by an alliance of lightly armed rebels for a people鈥檚 revolt. The junta has declared the alliance 鈥渢errorists鈥�.

A spokesperson for the military did not answer calls seeking comment on Sunday about Chollet鈥檚 remarks.

The diplomat is visiting Thailand, Singapore and Brunei to follow up on a meeting last month of the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

In addition to imposing sanctions, Washington is working with Asean and countries such as Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia regarding Myanmar, Chollet said.

He expressed hope that China could also be 鈥減art of the solution鈥� in Myanmar.

黑料社