The three ethnic armed groups of the Brotherhood Alliance, including the powerful Arakan Army (AA), have threatened to end a ceasefire with the Myanmar military in response to its mass killings of civilians across the country.
The alliance, which also includes the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), said in a statement on Tuesday that the military must stop the killings.
Otherwise the alliance would cooperate with the Spring Revolution to help defend people, the statement said.
In the initial weeks after the coup the AA’s position was unclear. The military removed the group from its list of designated terrorist organisations on March 11, sparking speculation that the AA had struck a deal with the junta even as other armed groups were vowing to help topple it.
The alliance declared a unilateral ceasefire with the military in September 2019 and had been extending it periodically since then. The ceasefire was due to be renewed tomorrow.
“We are now discussing at the leadership level whether or not we should continue” with the ceasefire, Major Aike Kyaw, a TNLA spokesperson, told Myanmar Now.
“It is still the time to control the pandemic,” he added. “If they are violently suppressing the people at a time like this, we will stand with the people and protect their lives and security.”
In its statement, the alliance also said it would cooperate with international organisations to fight terrorism.
Last year, two Tatmadaw soldiers who were involved in the mass killings of Rohingya in Rakhine state in 2017 were reportedly taken into custody at The Hague after the AA released videos of them confessing to atrocities.
Other armed groups have also said they will take the fight to the Tatmadaw following last month’s coup.
The Kachin Independence Army, a former member of the alliance, has launched several skirmishes against police and military posts and warned the junta not to harm civilians.
The Karen National Union has also escalated attacks against the military and condemned its mass killing campaign.
