Myanmar’s Pro-Democracy Leaders Condemn Junta’s Airstrikes, Urge International Support

Four years after a brutal military coup ousted Myanmar’s democratically elected government, representatives of the National Unity Government (NUG), a pro-democracy group positioning itself as the country’s legitimate authority, have issued a stark warning about the escalating violence against civilians. Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo on Thursday, senior NUG officials condemned the military junta’s intensifying airstrikes, which they described as war crimes targeting innocent people, including children. With civilian deaths mounting and millions displaced, they urged Japan and the international community to step up support for vulnerable populations and to cut off the junta’s access to fuel and weapons, allegedly supplied by nations such as Russia and China.

The press conference, held at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan, painted a grim picture of Myanmar’s ongoing crisis. Shwe Shwe Sein Latt, an advisory board member for the NUG’s ministry of women, youth, and children affairs, accused the military of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and makeshift schools. “They are committing war crimes and killing innocent civilians, including children,” she said, highlighting the junta’s apparent strategy of using airstrikes to compensate for territorial losses on the ground. According to the NUG, over 1,000 airstrikes were recorded in 2024 alone, a sharp increase since the coup in February 2021.

The human toll of the conflict is staggering. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a Myanmar-based human rights group, has verified that at least 6,260 civilians have been killed since the coup as of early February 2025. Meanwhile, the NUG estimates that around 3.6 million people have been internally displaced, forced to flee their homes amid relentless violence. Many have sought refuge in makeshift camps along Myanmar’s borders, particularly with Thailand, where conditions are often dire.

Airstrikes as a Tool of Desperation

The escalation of airstrikes, as described by NUG officials, appears to be a response to the military’s weakening grip on power. Over the past four years, resistance forces, including ethnic armed groups and pro-democracy militias, have made significant gains, wresting control of key territories from the junta. Unable to maintain dominance on the ground, the military has increasingly turned to aerial assaults, often striking civilian areas with little regard for collateral damage.

Shwe Shwe Sein Latt pointed to a particularly troubling aspect of this strategy: the sourcing of fuel and weaponry. She suggested that countries like Russia and China are supplying the junta with the resources needed to sustain its campaign of violence. While she offered no direct evidence during the press conference, her call for the international community to “stop selling fuel and weapons” to Myanmar’s military underscores a broader concern among activists and analysts about external support prolonging the conflict. If confirmed, such transactions could complicate diplomatic efforts to isolate the junta and pressure it into negotiations.

The Guardian notes that allegations of foreign involvement in arming the Myanmar military have surfaced repeatedly since the coup, though concrete evidence often remains elusive. Without verified data, claims of specific countries’ roles must be treated with caution. Nonetheless, the NUG’s plea adds to growing calls for stricter sanctions and export controls targeting the junta’s supply lines.

A Dubious Election Plan

Amid the chaos, the military junta has announced plans to hold elections in 2025, a move widely seen as an attempt to legitimise its rule. However, Naw Hla Hla Soe, the NUG’s minister for women, youth, and children affairs, dismissed the proposal outright. “We are not accepting this election,” she declared, arguing that no credible vote can take place while fighting rages and civilians remain under threat. Her scepticism reflects a broader consensus among pro-democracy advocates that any election orchestrated by the junta would lack legitimacy and fail to address the root causes of Myanmar’s crisis.

When asked about the possibility of dialogue with the military, Naw Hla Hla Soe expressed cautious openness but set a firm precondition: the junta must “stop killing civilians.” This stance highlights the deep mistrust between the NUG and the military, as well as the immense challenges facing any potential peace process. For now, the prospect of meaningful negotiations appears remote, with violence continuing to spiral and both sides entrenched in their positions.

Humanitarian Crisis and International Responsibility

Beyond the political deadlock, the NUG officials in Tokyo drew attention to the worsening humanitarian situation. Naw Hla Hla Soe described efforts by her ministry to provide vocational training for women and youth, initiatives aimed at rebuilding lives shattered by conflict. She expressed hope for collaboration with the Japanese government to expand these programmes, framing such partnerships as critical to supporting Myanmar’s most vulnerable populations.

The minister also raised concerns about the plight of refugees, particularly those in camps along the Myanmar-Thailand border. Some of these camps have historically received support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). However, with the incoming administration of U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly seeking to dismantle the agency, funding for these lifelines is now at risk. Naw Hla Hla Soe appealed to Japan and other nations to fill the gap, stressing the urgent need for shelter, food, and medical aid for displaced families.

The border camps, often overcrowded and under-resourced, are a stark reminder of the broader regional implications of Myanmar’s conflict. Neighbouring countries like Thailand have borne much of the burden, hosting tens of thousands of refugees while grappling with their own domestic challenges. Without sustained international support, the humanitarian crisis risks deepening, with ripple effects felt across South East Asia.

Japan’s Role and the Path Ahead

Japan, as host of the NUG’s press conference, occupies a unique position in the Myanmar crisis. Historically, Tokyo has maintained diplomatic and economic ties with Myanmar, even as it has condemned the coup and the military’s human rights abuses. In recent years, Japan has provided humanitarian aid and supported peace initiatives, though it has stopped short of imposing harsh sanctions on the junta, unlike Western nations such as the United States and the European Union.

The NUG’s appeal in Tokyo signals a desire to deepen engagement with Japan, particularly on humanitarian fronts. For Japanese policymakers, the challenge lies in balancing diplomatic restraint with growing pressure to take a firmer stance against the junta. Public sentiment in Japan, as reflected in media coverage and civil society campaigns, increasingly favours stronger action, including targeted sanctions on military-linked businesses.

Looking ahead, the Myanmar crisis shows no sign of abating. The military’s reliance on airstrikes and external support, if substantiated, suggests a willingness to prolong the conflict at immense human cost. Meanwhile, the NUG and its allies face the daunting task of sustaining resistance while addressing the immediate needs of millions of displaced and traumatised citizens.

For the international community, the NUG’s message from Tokyo is a sobering call to action. Cutting off the junta’s access to resources, bolstering humanitarian aid, and maintaining pressure for accountability are all essential steps. Yet, as the conflict enters its fifth year, the path to resolution remains fraught with complexity. If dialogue is to have any chance, it must be premised on an end to violence—a demand that, for now, seems far from being met.

The voices of Myanmar’s pro-democracy leaders, amplified in Tokyo, serve as a reminder of what is at stake: not just the future of a nation, but the fundamental principles of justice and humanity. As Naw Hla Hla Soe and Shwe Shwe Sein Latt made clear, the world cannot afford to look away.