Myanmar parallel government to challenge regime with $700m budget

Shadow finance minister takes aim at military generals on economic battlefield

Anti-coup protesters march in Mandalay on Aug. 8, the anniversary of a 1988 uprising. Myanmar's parallel government is preparing to subsidize 250,000 people who have joined the civil disobedience movement. © Reuters

GWEN ROBINSON, Nikkei Asia editor-at-large, and RORY WALLACE, Contributing writer

September 2, 2021 15:00 JST

BANGKOK/YANGON -- Myanmar's shadow National Unity Government has stepped up its revenue generation and fundraising efforts to channel hundreds of millions of dollars into opposing the military regime that seized power on Feb. 1. It is also tapping international supporters, including wealthy overseas Burmese, and lobbying to cut funding flows to the military regime, known as the State Administration Council, while pressing foreign investors to divest from military-linked businesses.