As the situation in Myanmar continues to be volatile, a lobbyist claiming to be employed by the military government suggested on Saturday that the junta wants to improve relations with the United States and other Western countries and move away from China, arguing that the military “does not want to be a puppet of China. A spokesman for Myanmar’s military government has not yet responded to the report.
Ari Ben-Menashe, a former Israeli military intelligence officer, said in an interview with the British media that he and his company had signed a contract with Myanmar Defense Minister Mya Tun Oo to facilitate communication between the military and Western countries that misunderstand the situation on the ground, and that they would be paid if foreign sanctions against the military were lifted. He revealed that the military believes Aung San Suu Kyi has been too pro-China since taking power in 2016, saying bluntly that Myanmar wants to lean on the United States and the West.
Regarding the Burmese army’s accusation of fraud in last year’s local elections, Ben Menashe said the military could prove that the elections were rigged and ethnic minorities were even banned from voting, but no substantive evidence was provided. He said he went to Myanmar twice after the coup and found that local unrest was not widespread, adding that the protests were not supported by most Burmese.
Even though there are photos and videos of the military showing up, Ben Menashe insisted it was the Burmese police who handled the demonstrations and not the military, reiterating that the military is in the best position to oversee a return to democracy on the ground after the coup: “They want to be completely out of politics, but it takes a process.”
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