The declaration will not affect the fighting against the Arakan Army (AA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), however those found supporting or contacting them can now face legal action.
The alliance and PDF groups have battled closer to the second city of Mandalay, home to around 1.5 million people and the military’s central command.
Opponents of the military launched a rocket attack on Mandalay on Tuesday, damaging buildings and wounding one person, local media reported, in a rare attack on an urban area.
An opinion piece in Wednesday’s Global New Light of Myanmar criticised the military’s recent losses in Shan state.
“Who would have thought that Lashio would fall,” it said, referring to a Shan town of 150,000 people that was captured last month.
“Who would then give the definite assurance that nothing will happen to whatever you own in Mandalay?”
“Once the artillery shells started to rain down upon the city, it would be too late to move out of the city in an orderly manner,” it said.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/myanmar-junta-chief-warn-counterattack-opponent-held-areas-rebel-ethnic-armed-groups-4585921
