Ten ethnic armed groups end talks with the military, declare support for Civil Disobedience Movement 

Ten ethnic armed groups who have signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) announced on Saturday that they will no longer negotiate with the military government and will support efforts to topple it.

“We support the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and public protests against the military coup and military dictatorship, and we are going to find ways to support these movements and protests,” said the statement.

It also condemned violent crackdowns against peaceful protesters and demanded the unconditional release of those detained since the February 1 coup. 

“The future seems harder. We have to stand together with the whole public,” said Lt Gen Yawd Serk, chairman of the Restoration Council of Shan State, in an online meeting between the armed groups today.

The armed groups, who also include the Karen National Union and the Chin National Front, will cooperate with the international community and activist groups inside and outside the country to help bring the dictatorship to an end, the statement said.

The announcement follows two days of discussions between the 10 groups. Eight of them signed the NCA under Thein Sein’s government and another two signed under Aung San Suu Kyi’s administration.