May 5, local time, the Government of National Unity of Myanmar issued Proclamation 202101 announcing the formation of the People’s Defence Force.
The announcement said the government’s move was to exercise the power conferred by the people in the 2020 elections to form the People’s Defence Force in accordance with national defense policy, which will also be a precursor to the future Union Army of Myanmar.
The announcement was issued by Prime Minister Manwin Kaidan of the Government of National Unity of Myanmar.
The Government of National Unity of Myanmar was announced on 16 April by the Committee of Representatives of the Federal Parliament of Myanmar, with Wen Min as President and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as Minister of State, in addition to the appointment of the Vice-President, the Prime Minister and ministers and deputy ministers of 11 departments.
On 20 April, myanmar’s Ministry of the Interior declared the Government of National Unity an illegal organization, followed by a declaration of the wanted arrest of key members of the Government of National Unity.