Myanmar is a country facing a brutal civil war. Rebel groups are fighting against the military regime that took control after a coup. This is their story.
- Rebel forces united to fight Myanmar’s powerful military
- They have taken control of large areas by force
- The UN says thousands have died, and millions fled their homes
- Rebels want to restore democracy after the elected government was ousted
Are these rebels strong enough to defeat Myanmar’s professional army? (Introductory question)
Rebels Gain Ground Against Army
The rebels made big gains by joining together in one nationwide insurgency. The main rebel group is the Karen Nationality Defense Force (KDF).
They drove Myanmar’s military out of most of Kayin State. But the army still controls some bases there. The rebels try persuading soldiers to surrender at one base.
“I’m fighting against the system,” a rebel named Maw Zin tells the soldiers. “We have surrounded you. This is your last chance to surrender.”
The soldiers keep firing, refusing to give up the base.
Intense Combat with High Casualties
This is an old-fashioned war with fierce, close-combat fighting. Casualties are very high.
The KDF’s leader, Maw Wunna, says, “Over 350 of our brothers and sisters sacrificed their lives. Over 200 sacrificed body parts. But hundreds more join us daily, willing to fight the army.”
When the BBC crew visits a rebel camp, the military launches a counter-attack with artillery and mortars. The rebels have no body armour as shells land around them.
“The army has everything – artillery, planes, mortars. How can you defeat that?” the BBC reporter asks a rebel.
“We have enough heart, enough morale, enough humanity. That’s how we’ll defeat them,” he replies.
Growing Rebel Strength
Despite being outmatched in weapons, the rebels’ ranks have never been stronger, and their victories have never been greater.
“I am a warrior, and this is my ballot box,” says one young fighter, explaining why she took up arms after peaceful protests failed.
As the military crackdown intensified, many people joined the rebel cause. They see armed revolution as the only path to restoring Myanmar’s democratically elected government.
Facing such determined opposition, can the military regime hang on to power? Only time will tell who will control Myanmar’s future.
