At the 4th anniversary ceremony of the People’s Defense Force’s establishment, National Unity Government’s Interim President Duwa Lashi La emphasized that a revolution cannot achieve true victory without winning the hearts of the people. During the ceremony held on May 5, the Interim President detailed the importance and duties of the People’s Defense Force, explaining its crucial role in the ongoing struggle for democracy.
The Interim President stressed that the People’s Defense Force operates under the guidance of the public as a people’s revolutionary army, born from the will of the people, and must therefore prioritize public interests above all else. He further warned that as an armed organization, it must maintain serious convictions and beliefs regarding the use of weapons, as without such principles, it could become a dangerous entity for the country and its people. He emphasized the fundamental difference between a people’s defense force and a military that oppresses its own citizens.
The primary duty of the People’s Defense Force is to protect civilians, not to harm them, as the Interim President explained through metaphorical language: treat enemies with the intensity of fire while handling civilians with the gentleness of water, and approach enemies with the heat of the sun while treating civilians with the coolness of the moon. He firmly stated that regardless of what strategies or approaches might be necessary along the revolutionary path, they would continue fighting with all their might for the main objective of completely eliminating the military dictatorship system. The Interim President concluded by reaffirming their unwavering commitment to the revolution until genuine democratic change is achieved for the people of Myanmar.
