Myanmar’s junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing, has called for armed ethnic groups engaged in an offensive against the ruling military to resolve their issues through political means, as reported by state media on Tuesday. He cautioned that continued hostilities could negatively impact the residents of affected regions and emphasized the necessity of considering people’s lives. The military, which seized power in a 2021 coup, is facing a significant challenge as ethnic minority forces launched a coordinated offensive in late October, capturing towns and military posts.
Despite the junta leader’s call for dialogue, a parallel civilian government supporting some rebel groups rejected the proposal. Kyaw Zaw, a spokesperson for the National Unity Government, dismissed the junta’s overture, insisting on genuine dialogue only if the military relinquishes its political role.
As conflict rages in Shan State, bordering China, and Rakhine and Chin States in the west, reports indicate that numerous military and police officials have surrendered. The United Nations estimates tens of thousands of residents have been displaced by the escalating violence.
