The National Unity Government (NUG) held a press conference online this week to lay out its progress in coordinating the resistance to take on the Myanmar junta that grabbed power in a coup in February 2021. 

In the press conference held for the media on 3 May, Press Secretary and Spokesperson of the NUG prime minister’s office Nay Bone Latt provided information and Kyaw Zaw, the spokesperson of the NUG president’s office joined in response to the questions of media organizations.  

The meeting focused on the NUG’s international relations, military affairs and defections to the opposition, development of an interim local government, alliance relationships, public services, civil disobedience movement, and the finance and business sector. 

Regarding international relations, the NUG foreign minister held meetings with officials from ASEAN, EU and many countries.  

Moreover, the NUG opened representative offices in eight countries: the United States, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Australia, France, Norway, South Korea and Japan.  

It also collected evidence and collated data on 171 atrocities committed by the military junta, including crimes against humanity and massacres in ethnic areas.   

In relation to military affairs and defections to the people’s embrace, the NUG organized more than 300 battalions of the People’s Defence Forces and village-based people’s defence forces in 250 townships, and allied with ethnic revolutionary organizations in establishing a Central Command and Coordination Committee (C3C) and Joint Coordination Committee (J2C) for ensuring a systematic chain of command in each theatre of the conflict. 

NUG also established interim local governments for people’s administration in 171 townships, 169 police forces conducting training in criminal investigations and the gathering of information on the Military Council. 

In the controlled area, NUG implemented a taxation system and could collect 10 billion kyat, and the revenues were used for defence and the rebuilding of the local area and humanitarian aid.  

In addition, the NUG formed the Alliance Relationship Committee (ARC) on 4 January 2022 with EROs, political parties, revolutionary forces and various consultative councils to work together in matters ranging from humanitarian aid to military affairs, defence, health and education.  

The NUG’s 100,000 teachers and education officials who joined the civil disobedience movement are now providing primary education, higher education, vocational training, and teacher training nationally onsite or online using digital-based learning methods at 70 online schools, and 5,000 schools on the ground where face-to-face teaching is provided for over 750,000 students.   

Furthermore, the NUG has provided humanitarian assistance worth of 66 billion kyat (US$2.3 million) to over 200,000 internally displaced people each month, and spent US$2 million for healthcare.  

The NUG formed the CDM Success Committee, comprised of its ministers, deputy ministers, representatives from CRPH and an extensive network of CDMers. The committee used about 4,000 million kyat for the emergency need of over 210,000 CDMers who contacted the committee.  

The NUG has raised a total fund of more than 171 million kyat to offer small and medium enterprise loans and for the revolution through fundraising projects of the Spring Lottery, United Bond, End of Dictatorship, Early Partnership Program, NUG pay, Income tax, Revenue and penalties of the Ministry of Planning, Finance and Investment. 

In response to the media questions, the spokespersons of the NUG prime minister’s office and president’s office said the NUG will launch legal proceedings against Thailand’s state-owned PTT Exploration and Production Public Company, preventive measures against airstrikes of military, NUG’s intention to collaborate with all the stakeholders and neighouring countries for peace and stability of the country.   

The press team also explained that the NUG is: trying to immediately stop violent attacks and atrocities by the military on civilians, seeking the release of all political prisoners, and blocking the military from politics.  

The NUG also advised ASEAN to review its approach to the Myanmar issue, push for significant results, and to provide support for the establishment of a new Myanmar based on the expectations of the people.  

The NUG also confirmed progress in discussions with the US government to implement the Burma Act in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, and NUG’s engagements with ASEAN countries.