Myanmar, Thailand earthquake death toll jumps to over 1,600 as bodies recovered from the rubble
BANGKOK — Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government, which coordinates the popular struggle against the ruling military, announced Saturday a unilateral partial ceasefire Saturday night to facilitate earthquake relief efforts. An announcement said its armed wing, the People’s Defense Force, will implement a two-week pause in offensive military operations starting Sunday in earthquake-affected areas. It said it would “collaborate with the U.N. and non-governmental organizations to ensure security, transportation, and the establishment of temporary rescue and medical camps,” in the areas it controls. “We call on all ethnic groups and citizens to actively cooperate with the NUG and revolutionary forces in providing comprehensive emergency rescue and relief assistance to the earthquake victims,” the statement said. The plan poses a sharp political challenge to the military, which has heavily restricted much needed aid efforts to the more than 3 million people displaced by war even before the earthquake. Sympathizers of the resistance have urged that relief efforts incorporate aid freely transported to areas under the control of the National Unity Government. There was no immediate comment by the military on the announcement, which was released shortly before