An interview with Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) participant Captain Htet Myat
September 19th, 2022
Former army Captain Htet Myat participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and defected to the People’s Defense Forces (PDF), which is participating in the armed struggle to overthrow the military dictatorship under the military council. He was interviewed to learn more about the strengths of the popular uprising and the current situation of the campaigns for those who have not yet fled into the people’s embrace.
Q: As a former captain in the military, can you share your opinion on effective cooperation between CDM participants and those involved in the armed resistance to overthrow the military dictatorship?
A: Now only those with good morals are left. We’ve reached this position after more than a year [of struggle]. For us, there’s no turning back. We no longer need to encourage the public. Instead, they encourage us. But people are enduring more hardships than before.
Such things even give us strength. We don’t need to encourage them much anymore. Right now, their mood is at its peak. We need to understand that. We need to unite more and work more harmoniously. We need mutual understanding. That’s why we’re studying military tactics even more intensively to achieve such things.
Q: How do you assess the current military situation of those who participate in the armed resistance and those who support the revolution against the military dictatorship?
A: In the past, it was very difficult for us to get a weapon. But now they [resistance groups] have reached a stage where they can make their own weapons. If we can strengthen that, we’ll be very successful. Before, [junta] soldiers weren’t afraid of death. Even if they’ve to fight a battle, they weren’t afraid to die. But many of them are afraid that they’ll die in the battle. Therefore, it’s better if we do more to drive them to death in different ways.
Our group is launching different attacks on them [the junta soldiers]. This can bring more success. We attack them with the help of snipers and drones. We’ve reached such a position step by step. In the past, they were even afraid of the Tumee rifle. They were afraid of confrontation even if they’d more men. So there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be afraid now when our weapons are more advanced and of higher quality. We just need to be able to use all the methods that they’ll be afraid of.
Q: How important is it still for people under the military council to join the CDM or defect to the people’s embrace?
A: It’s still important to join the CDM. This is because the military regime is slowly weakening. They’re so weakened that they’ve even begun to use combat support units. Recently, even military office personnel have offered to join the CDM.
Even the military offices have joined the CDM. This is one of the successes of the pressure we’ve put on them to participate in the CDM. We used to think that only soldiers from infantry battalions would join the CDM. Those who’ve privilege in the military wouldn’t leave because they’ve enough opportunities to continue their lives without worries. The situation has already changed. Therefore, we should push them harder to join the CDM.
Q: How are you going to make them participate in CDM or take refuge in the people’s embrace? Can you tell me what potential the CDM has to make the revolution a success?
A: With the pressure we’re putting on them, including military means, it’s expected that more and more people will participate in the CDM. More CDM participants means more protection for people. If you ask me, the revolution will succeed, but I don’t know when. It depends on our actions and efforts. We can now put more pressure on the military regime from all sides at a good pace. If we can maintain that, we’ll succeed sooner or later. I think other groups will think like me.
Q: As a former army captain who’s taken refuge in the people’s embrace, what would you like to say to the people of the country to boost their morale?
A: The most important thing is that people’s lives are a bit more difficult now. In this regard, we should encourage and help the public. If people support us in the same way, we’ll surely succeed. It’s just hard to say exactly when. Our success is certain.
Sent by KIC.