PAKOKKU, Myanmar — A coalition of 21 civil society and armed organizations has issued an urgent appeal for a peaceful resolution to mounting tensions over natural resource management between resistance forces in central Myanmar’s Magway Region.
The joint statement, released on March 31, expresses deep concern over “frictions” occurring in Pakokku District. The dispute centers on the control and utilization of local natural resources, a critical issue that advocates say must be settled through high-level negotiations between the National Unity Government (NUG) and the Magway Federal Unit’s interim administration.
A resistance fighter from the district, who spoke to MPA on condition of anonymity, confirmed that leadership at the ministerial level is currently engaged in direct talks. “They are not making arrests; instead, they are discussing and clarifying matters between the two administrations,” he said. “The Chief Ministers and the NUG are negotiating directly to find a solution.”
The 21-member coalition, which includes six regional battalions and various CDM health and education bodies, warned that failure to reach a clear agreement could transform short-term frictions into a long-term armed conflict. The statement strongly condemned any attempt to use force to settle what should be a diplomatic matter aimed at maintaining national unity.
The coalition has reportedly sent formal letters to key bodies, including the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), and the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The aim is to ensure that regional interests and the overall strength of the revolution are not compromised by internal competition for resources.
Signatories of the appeal include prominent local groups such as the Myaing Township General Strike Committee, the 88 Peace and Open Society (Pakokku), and several People’s Administration Bodies (Pa-Aa-Fa) from Myaing and Pauk townships.
As the resistance forces move to control larger swathes of territory in the dry zone of central Myanmar, the management of economic assets like timber, minerals, and fuel has become a litmus test for the proposed federal democratic system.
“The revolution is at a stage where administrative maturity is essential,” a political observer noted. “How the NUG and local federal units handle these resource disputes will signal to the public—and the international community—whether they can manage a stable and unified governance structure in the post-junta era.”
The mediation process is being closely monitored by local communities, who fear that internal strife would only serve the interests of the military junta, which remains entrenched in major urban centers while losing its grip on the rural heartlands.
