[SDD] We Asked For Transparency. The Junta released an 800 word-long Defense Statement Instead.

Excerpt from the unedited publication last night. (Photo: Jayden Khung Ee Jae and Chan Qi En, The Ministers of Myanmar, Special Defence Dialogue, with permission.)

During a press conference for the Special Defence Dialogue, Myanmar did not reply

immediately to the DVB’s questions but later issued an official statement. We

address the publication’s contents here.

During a press conference for the Special Defence Dialogue, Myanmar did not reply immediately to the DVB’s questions but later issued an official statement. We address the publication’s contents here.

What was the statement about?

Much of the publication was dedicated to a defence of the military junta’s credibility on the world stage. Myanmar argued that "(the military junta) should not be classified as a terrorist group (...) the main goal of the government is to ensure the stability of the country through non-aggressive means."

Some other claims made were rather dubious. The regime said that they “had tried to its best of their abilities to respond to the attacks of the opposition armed forces in a peaceful and orderly manner."

What “a peaceful and orderly manner” referred to was unclear.

Who did the public statement attribute blame to?

"The aggressive response that had caused the exacerbation of the civil war was at the foundation of relentless violent actions taken by the armed opposition forces,” the statement outlined. This portrayed the armed forces in opposition to junta rule as the aggressors that provoked the Myanmar civil war, which ignored the fact that the civil war only began due to Min Aung Hliang’s military junta forcefully seizing control over a democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi

The statement further clarified that "the real terrorists are the armed opposition forces, particularly the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army and Arakan Army." It cannot be disputed that these militant groups have committed acts of violence during Myanmar’s civil war. However, a sole political actor’s labelling of its opposition as “the real terrorists” should inherently garner some skepticism. It should also be noted that initial armed resistance to the military coup was motivated in part by Min Aung Hliang’s soldiers ruthlessly cracking down on peaceful civilian demonstrations.

In early 2021, the Brotherhood Alliance, which the Arakan Army was part of, urged the military to “stop the killings”. If the military persisted in its violence, the Brotherhood “would cooperate with the Spring Revolution to help defend people.”

A dismissal of the evidence

A key point on the agenda of the Special Defence Dialogue was the question of private and state-funded military contractors and arms dealers. During committee debate, however, Myanmar appeared to avoid the topic entirely.

In response to a question raised by the DVB during the Special Defence Dialogue press conference, asking whether it was aware of Chinese Private Military Companies operating within Myanmar’s territory, the statement said that "there are no Private Military Companies in Myanmar and no financial support by the government in Myanmar."

This seemed to be a direct contradiction to the junta’s previous statement in the same article, where it blamed “rebel forces in Myanmar” for “relying on Private Ammunition Industries from Thailand”.

At the same time, it also contradicted a report by Radio Free Asia, where it was revealed that foreign military operatives from China were being deployed to secure Myanmar’s oil and gas pipelines, with a new law enacted this year effectively legalising such actions.

A facade of care

"This day marks the 39th day... of ceasefire announced by the Myanmar Junta... to prioritize the post-earthquake recovery efforts." The Junta, albeit initially stalling for time, gave in to the ceasefire deal under heavy condemnation by the international community.

On paper, this looks like a win for Myanmar. However, the situation on the ground, reflective of the success of existing efforts taken by the junta, tells a different story. Between March 28 and April 24, the military launched at least 207 attacks, including 140 airstrikes and 24 artillery barrages, according to data from the UN Human Rights Office, based on reports it had received.

Furthermore, the Environmental Minister Ohn Win shifted the blame for the jade

pickers’ death on their “greed”.

Mr Win’s statement has drawn major backlash from the international community. Statements like “the government still takes into consideration the well-being of the citizens," therefore appear hypocritical, when the government actively disregards the humanitarian crisis and the bloodshed of Burmese citizens.

In the end, the scales of justice measure the actions, not the promises and statements a political actor makes. One statement alone will not clean the junta’s slate. Because upon any closer inspection or investigation, the junta's inhumane treatment of the innocent lives of Myanmar becomes immediately apparent.

Written by Aaron Tan Rui Ze, Tham Harkman, and Chen Chak Kai.