https://www.scmp.com/rss/522632/feed National Unity Government (NUG): A provisional government of Myanmar, the NUG was formed by elected lawmakers and anti-coup groups after the 2021 military takeover. Operating remotely and within Myanmar, its primary mission is to restore democracy, eradicate dictatorship, and establish a federal democratic union. The NUG leads the resistance against the junta, including forming the People’s Defence Force, and engages in political, diplomatic, and public service activities like healthcare and... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Kyodo Kyodo A 24-year-old fighter from Myanmar’s pro-democracy People’s Defence Force has said many of those who fight alongside him have switched sides at times in the long-running civil war, with a lack of financial compensation forcing them to temporarily side with a junta-aligned armed group. The fighter, who identified himself only as Soe, joined the PDF to “regain democracy” after the military coup of February 1, 2021, which ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Formerly a physics major... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3335695/starving-myanmar-fighters-join-junta-linked-group-money-dirty-reality-bites?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3335695/starving-myanmar-fighters-join-junta-linked-group-money-dirty-reality-bites?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 04:24:45 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran East Timor’s recalibration of its stance on Myanmar’s military regime has drawn both scrutiny and intrigue across Southeast Asia, as Dili seeks to smooth its path into Asean ahead of next month’s summit. Once a vocal critic of Myanmar’s junta, which came to power in a 2021 coup that toppled the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and plunged the country into civil conflict, East Timor has in recent weeks taken a markedly softer line. Dili reportedly assured the junta earlier this month it... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327188/east-timors-asean-dreams-see-it-mend-fences-myanmars-military-junta?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327188/east-timors-asean-dreams-see-it-mend-fences-myanmars-military-junta?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 03:53:13 +0000 Aidan Jones Aidan Jones Myanmar’s military regime wants to hold the first election since it seized power in 2021, but opponents have decried the idea as senseless amid the country’s civil war, as they warn of more bloodshed while the junta embarks on a doomed attempt at a reset. The country has announced that the first phase of the general election is scheduled to begin on December 28, with additional stages to follow. The statement offers the clearest timeline yet after months of vague promises by the junta’s leader,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3322662/myanmar-juntas-sham-election-plan-slammed-gateway-more-bloodshed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3322662/myanmar-juntas-sham-election-plan-slammed-gateway-more-bloodshed?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Aug 2025 09:12:52 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow As East Timor edges closer to joining Asean, Myanmar’s military rulers are seeking to block its entry, in a warning to it – and governments everywhere – against engaging with the war-torn country’s opposition forces. Last week, sources cited by public broadcaster Thai PBS revealed that Myanmar’s military regime had formally notified Malaysia, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of its intent to withhold support for East Timor’s membership when the bloc convenes in... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3317316/will-myanmar-block-east-timors-asean-entry-juntas-nug-warning-shot-tests-blocs-unity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3317316/will-myanmar-block-east-timors-asean-entry-juntas-nug-warning-shot-tests-blocs-unity?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 04:00:11 +0000 Yuyun Wahyuningrum Yuyun Wahyuningrum Ahead of the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on July 8-9 in Kuala Lumpur, officials must move beyond rhetorical consensus and seize the moment to embrace transformative, people-centred approaches that reflect the realities on the ground and restore the bloc’s credibility and relevance. More than four years have passed since Myanmar’s military staged a violent coup, plunging the country into a deepening political and humanitarian crisis. The regime’s grip has inflicted devastating harm:... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3316365/myanmar-crisis-demands-asean-rethink-regional-diplomacy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3316365/myanmar-crisis-demands-asean-rethink-regional-diplomacy?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Jul 2025 21:30:08 +0000