The main underground group coordinating resistance to Myanmar’s military government yesterday issued a sweeping call for a nationwide uprising, raising the prospect of spiraling unrest.

The National Unity Government, which views itself as a shadow government, was established by elected legislators who were barred from taking their seats when the military seized power in February.

The group’s acting president, Duwa Lashi La, declared what he called a “state of emergency” and called for revolt “in every village, town and city in the entire country at the same time. A video of his speech was posted on Facebook.

The shadow government’s prime minister, Mahn Winn Khaing Thann, said in a separate statement posted online that the new move was taken due to “changing circumstances” that required the complete abolition of the ruling military government.

He did not elaborate.

The call for an uprising came a week ahead of the convening of the UN General Assembly that begins September 13.

About 1,000 civilians have been killed in the seven months of clashes that followed the army takeover.


The Regime Unconcerned About the Uprising

A spokesman for the ruling military downplayed the call for renewed protests.

In a statement posted on the Telegram app by state television MRTV, Burmese Major General Zaw Min Tun blamed exile media for exaggerating the opposition’s strength.

Myanmar has been wracked by unrest since the military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, with initially peaceful demonstrations against the ruling generals morphing into a low-level insurrection in many urban areas after security forces used deadly force.