Myanmar's opposition National Unity Government (NUG) supports the rebel groups that have been fighting the ruling junta since late last year. These groups "have regained almost 60 to 70 percent of the territory," opposition foreign minister Zin Mar Aung told FRANCE 24's Marc Perelman about the ongoing conflict.
Three years after the coup in Myanmar, the junta is facing an armed rebellion from ethnic groups, backed by the NUG. The junta are "losing on the ground" after already having lost popular support. "[They are] gradually losing practical control on the ground every day," Zin Mar Aung said.
The National Unity Government claims to control some parts of the country, but has not yet claimed a large city or major military base. "We estimate that almost 60 percent of Myanmar's territory is under the control of the ethnic armed organisations and NUG-controlled areas," she said.
Of the reports of mass surrenders within the regular army, she estimated that "almost 20,000 deserters are already on our list, but there might be more than that".
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Zin Mar Aung explained that the cooperation between her organisation and ethnic rebel groups was established by "a joint chain of command". She predicted that within a few months, "the revolutionary forces will put more and more pressure on the capital".
"On the ground, we are even setting up our local governance to substitute their governance system," Zin Mar Aung said.
Zin Mar Aung underlined that the pressure on the junta is supposed to bring about "internal changes" to make them "transform themselves".
"Our pressure is not only military means, but also political, diplomatic and economic means," she said.
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Asked about who is arming the rebels, she said some of the weapons come from deserters but "homemade weapons" also play a part.
Of China's role in the conflict, she said Beijing remains "quite cautious" and "concerned about the leadership" after the coup, adding that the junta "does not reflect" China's interests.
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She said she hoped to see increased recognition from Western governments, including the opposition's representatives to be officially hosted abroad as "the legitimate representative of the people of Myanmar". She said she appreciated France's humanitarian support on the ground but added that, the "French parliament is much more active than the French government."
Zin Mar Aung said establishing a federal democratic union is "the only way out for Myanmar" along with a new Constitution. "We already have basic principles based on the Federal Democracy's charter, which will be the basic document for the new Constitution," she said.
