EXILE / ONLINE — The acting president of Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG) has issued a stern call for unity, warning that internal friction during the current anti-junta revolution is “extremely ugly” and could jeopardize the nation’s future.
Speaking at the ninth session of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Union Parliament) on March 16, Duwa Lashi La stressed that mutual support between the revolutionary government and lawmakers is the only path to a successful outcome against the military regime.
Addressing elected lawmakers, the Acting President urged the parliament to move beyond traditional legislative norms and adapt to a “revolutionary” format. He emphasized that the assembly must serve as a backbone for the resistance, particularly by strengthening ties with international parliaments to bolster the NUG’s diplomatic standing.
“The parliament and the government must be interdependent,” Duwa Lashi La told the assembly. “Conflict between us is extremely ugly during a revolution. This is a highly sensitive time where we cannot afford a single misstep. I urge all members of parliament to act with deep deliberation and restraint.”
The NUG leader framed the current struggle as a final opportunity to eradicate military dictatorship. He warned that if the Spring Revolution fails to achieve its goals now, future generations will face an even more arduous uphill battle.
He also highlighted ongoing efforts to solidify alliances between the pro-democracy forces and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), describing these partnerships as the foundation of a future Federal Democratic Union.
The NUG’s parliamentary session coincides with attempts by the military junta to revitalize its own “puppet” assembly. While the NUG draws its legitimacy from the 2020 general election through the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), the junta’s legislative body is widely viewed by international observers as a facade for military rule.
Duwa Lashi La also touched upon internal reforms within the NUG, stating that systematic changes have been made to the executive branch with further “bold” expansions planned for the near future.
The NUG continues to operate largely from undisclosed locations and via secure online channels as it seeks to coordinate a multi-front resistance against a military that seized power in a February 2021 coup.
