Myanmar’s Pro-Democracy NUG Seeks Strategic Intl Support; Official Asks Food Aid Not be Channeled Through Junta
19:34 JST, February 1, 2024
An official of Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG), a pro-democracy organization that sees itself as the country’s legitimate government, called for more strategic support from the international community for the people of Myanmar at an event in Tokyo on Thursday.
The event, held in the Members’ Office Building of the House of Councillors, was organized by the NUG and a nonpartisan group of Japanese lawmakers in support of democracy in Myanmar.
Win Myat Aye, the Union Minister for the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management of the NUG, spoke about the harsh situation facing the people of Myanmar. He said that the military has been threatening the lives of civilians, killing indiscriminately with repeated airstrikes and burning down villages over the past three years.
Despite these dire circumstances, he said, “I think that there’s still not much attention from the international community toward Myanmar.”
According to Win Myat Aye, many people in the country are now displaced and suffering from acute food shortages. While acknowledging that the international community has been providing aid to Myanmar, he noted that much of the support so far has been channeled through the military, meaning that it is not reaching the people who need it most.
“One-third of the population is experiencing hunger. Yet, relief supplies are only reaching areas where the military allows it, leaving displaced people without aid. The process of delivering aid with the military’s permission needs to be changed,” he said.
Win Myat Aye particularly urged against selling aviation fuel to the military, saying: “The military is carrying out indiscriminate attacks and airstrikes against the people of Myanmar. They’re able to do so because they have fuel for their airplanes.”
He also stressed that the military is in need of foreign currency and is attempting to illegally collect taxes from Myanmar citizens abroad. He urged the international community to prevent this from happening.
"World" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
UNRWA Director Describes Catastrophic Destruction in Gaza; Says Relief Trucks Robbed, ‘People’s Hearts Destroyed’
-
Paparo Stresses Ties with Allies at U.S. Indo-Pacific Change of Command Ceremony; U.S. Defense Secretary Emphasizes Strengthening Deterrence Against China
-
Parents Seek Truth of Daughter’s Death in Italy; New Investigation Launched 3 Years On
-
Brazilian President Lula Aims to Work with Japan on UNSC Reform, Condemns Israeli Attacks on Gaza as ‘Genocide’
-
North Korea Plants Land Mines on Roads to South; Kim’s Move Seen As Ratcheting Up Tension
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Weakening Yen Adds Complexity to BOJ’s Rate Hike Decisions; Rising Commodity Prices may Impact ‘Virtuous Cycle’ Efforts
- Japanese Seafood Exports to China Sink 57% in FY23; U.S. Becomes Largest Seafood Export Destination
- 70% of Japan Companies to Raise Pay Scales in FY 2024
- 48.6% of Global Patent Applications Related to All-Solid-State Batteries Came from Japanese Firms; Panasonic Tops List
- Core Consumer Prices Rise 2.8% in Fiscal 2023