Myanmar’s Unrest: A Tale of Resistance and Military Might

Myanmar’s Unrest: A Tale of Resistance and Military Might

Conflicts Escalate in Myanmar: Loss of Resistance Fighters

On the night of Friday, reports flooded in that Myanmar’s military junta had killed 24 resistance fighters and two civilian administrators in the Sagaing Region. The resistance fighters belonged to the Chay Yar Taw People’s Defense Force (PDF) and other PDFs under the civilian National Unity Government. The troops were said to have surrounded the fighters at the entrance of Myaung Township, trapping them as they were moving from Myinmu Township to Myaung.

The bodies of the 24 resistance fighters and the two Myinmu Township Administration staff were discovered near Chay Yar Taw village on the Myinmu-Myaung road on Saturday. The fighters, although armed, lacked automatic rifles and sufficient ammunition, leading them to surrender to the surrounding force. Reports from the Myaung groups suggest that only three people managed to escape.

The Aftermath: Grief and Criticism

Responding to the events, Amara, a representative from the Civilian Defense and Security Organization of Myaung, expressed the group’s grief over the loss and urged other groups to prioritize their safety. Her statement comes in the wake of frequent reports of similar massacres in the area. She criticized the leadership of the resistance groups, noting unclear chains of command and uncoordinated actions. She posed the question of who should bear responsibility for these losses.

Further conflicts between the junta and resistance groups in Myaung Township were also reported on Saturday, escalating the tension in the region.

Unrest Spreading Across the Nation

Apart from the incident in Sagaing Region, there have been reports of intense fighting between Myanmar’s army and resistance fighters in areas east of the capital, leading to significant civilian casualties. This includes the loss of at least 26 civilians, among which were six children, in Shan State’s Pekon township. This area has become a hotly contested zone in the armed struggle that has taken root since February 2021 when the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

The takeover resulted in widespread public protests, which were violently suppressed by the security forces. This, in turn, triggered an armed resistance that now spans much of the country. The recent fighting has focused on Mobye, a conglomeration of villages located about 100 kilometers east of the capital, Naypyitaw.

The People’s Defense Force

Opposed to military rule, newly formed militia units are part of a loosely organized People’s Defense Force, or PDF, which has allied with well-established armed ethnic minority groups such as the Karenni, the Karen, and the Kachin. These ethnic groups have been fighting the central government for more than half a century, seeking greater autonomy in border regions. The PDF and ethnic guerrillas regularly attack military columns, bases, and outposts. However, they are badly outgunned by the military government’s forces, who have been carrying out large-scale offensives in contested territory, employing artillery and air strikes, as well as soldiers on the ground.

As the conflict escalates, the military’s attacks have displaced more than a million people, causing a humanitarian crisis. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners estimates that at least 3,659 civilians have been killed by the security forces and 23,337 people arrested since the army’s 2021 takeover. The group keeps detailed tallies of arrests and casualties linked to the nation’s political conflicts.

While the situation remains volatile, the resistance continues to fight against the military rule, with the hope of restoring democracy in Myanmar.