An interview with Myanmar Air Force captain Zay Thu Aung who joined the CDM
The military council has increased its reliance on jet fighters in the recent battles and is conducting frequent airstrikes. The Than Lwin Times interviewed Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) captain Zay Thu Aung from Myanmar Air Force about the military council’s possible airstrikes and preventive measures for civilians including the revolutionary forces.
Q: The military council displayed advanced jet fighters and helicopters at the ceremony to mark 75th Anniversary of the Air Force Founding Day which falls on December 15. May I know your view on it?
A: It depends on the battle situation and our strength. I assume that the military council will use all kinds of ammunition which can be used for a war. The strength of the army is the infantry. The infantry troops have low fighting skills and morale. The army has to rely mainly on airstrike as it has no such prowess. I assume that the military council wants to show that their capacity can have a lot of impacts on us in order to encourage their soldiers and do psychological warfare against all the revolutionary forces.
Q: Can the military council conduct more air strikes as it officially displays advanced jet fighters?
A: The extent of casualties will vary based on the knowledge of the ground forces and the public about air defense system and preparations. The military council is carrying out attacks on the monasteries, villages and all targets by regarding them as the military targets. The public doesn’t need to be afraid of the military council’s airstrikes. But the public needs to make necessary preparations for prevention from the danger of airstrikes. SU30 is used for bombing at night. Bombers have limits to the reachability distance. The military council’s SU 30 can carry out bombings across the country via Nay Pyi Taw. For that, we need to make necessary preparations for it. I assume we should prepare for defense and response based on the location of camps, PDF camps and allocation of people.
Q: How do the civilians and revolutionary forces take precautionary measures?
A: As I said before, the extent of casualties will depend on our knowledge sharing, I believe.
Q: As a last question, may I know your view on the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by two houses of congress, which includes the Burma Act.
A: This is a very encouraging support. Fighting is not decided by the army alone. We need such assistance. Air defense technology and other techniques are required for a war. We will get certain assistance even when we don’t get arms assistance. We ourselves try to get technologies from the available sources even if the US doesn’t provide assistance. We are working on the technologies to respond to the junta’s airstrikes. I think we can do a lot by combining the US’s technical assistance and our technologies. There will be a lot of effectivenesses.
I assume the NDAA’s assistance to all revolutionary forces and the Myanmar people is a major blow to the military council. The military council suffers huge losses even when the resistance forces are fighting with the assistance provided by the Myanmar people at home and abroad. We can ramp up our fighting if we get official aid under the NDAA. As a result, the fall of the military council will go faster, I assume.
Sent by Than Lwin Times
