They don't have a numerical deficiency

Rebels against military rule in Burma seek arms and unity

  • A demonstration in support of the government of Aung San Suu Kyi, which was overthrown by a military coup.

    AFP

  • PDF elements receive their training.

    AFP

picture

After the military coup in Burma, the young policewoman, Nyan, defected from the security apparatus to join the ranks of the Popular Defense Forces militia, which is composed of civilians who are fighting a guerrilla war against the army and incurring losses.

In the early hours of each day, like hundreds of new recruits - students, staff and farmers - Nyan begins a long day of grueling training at a Karen Defense Forces training camp in the hills of Kayah State in the east.

The 24-year-old told AFP that the army had given orders to "shoot people" after the February military coup that toppled Aung San Suu Kyi's elected civilian government and ended a decade of democracy.

"If I, as a policeman, can no longer protect the people, it is my duty to stand on their side," she added.

Since the coup, the military has launched a bloody crackdown on their opponents, which has so far killed more than 1,300 civilians, according to the local NGO, the Association for the Assistance of Political Prisoners, which sheds light on cases of torture, rape and extrajudicial executions.

A special rapporteur at the United Nations also spoke about the "possibility of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity."

In response to the coup, militias of the Popular Defense Forces were formed, which launch targeted attacks against the army.

More than 400 roads and bridges have been targeted since February, according to official media, and dozens of army communications towers have been destroyed.

The researcher at the International Crisis Group, Richard Horsey, points to "the speed with which these militias obtained weapons and developed the necessary military strategies and capabilities, which enabled them to set up ambushes for government forces."

He added, "It seems that the military were surprised and faced difficulty in developing effective tactical responses."

While the army says it has lost 75 soldiers and 93 police since February, the shadow government of national unity, set up by the anti-coup resistance, confirms that 3,000 soldiers were killed in clashes with the Popular Defense Forces between June and November.

Thousands of recruits

The Karen Army, a rebel faction that has been in conflict with the central government for years, is training the defense forces of the Karen minority, which have drawn thousands of young men to its ranks, according to officials.

"The exercises are tough," says Htit Hetit, 18, "and I want to provide medical assistance to treat our soldiers."

The young woman, who dreams of one day becoming a teacher, decided to "help the revolution" after her relatives were killed in confrontations with the army.

Today, Hetit dreams of "eliminating the dictatorship", but hope seems weak, due to the difference in strength between the opposition militias and the Burmese army, which is one of the most important armies in Southeast Asia.

With the support of its allies Russia and China, which provide it with all kinds of military equipment, the ruling group is consolidating its position despite the continuing resistance against it.

In contrast, minority Karen defense force recruits rely solely on the donations of their supporters.

One of the militia officials says, "We are not worried about the fighters. 80% of the youth of our state are determined to overthrow the military government...but we need weapons."

The areas where these militias are located are far from the border with Thailand, which makes it difficult for them to buy weapons directly from the black market, and they have to pay large sums of money to intermediaries, at a time when the local currency has lost its value.

One arms dealer, who sells equipment to the defense forces of the Karen minority, says that in March and April, an M16 rifle was worth $2,200, and a Kalashnikov was selling for $2,700.

Today, prices have doubled.

Despite the lack of weapons and equipment, these militias and other local armed groups assert that they have taken control of several areas in Kayah State.

"Our soldiers are scattered everywhere, while only the locations around the army units are still outside our control," the official says.

The Karen Defense Forces and other civilian militias lack a unified vision to undermine the regime.

Although the national unity government communicates with these groups, according to country expert David Matheson, "it does not present them with a general strategy" to overthrow the military regime.

• Since the coup, the military has launched a bloody crackdown on their opponents, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 1,300 civilians.


• Despite the lack of weapons and equipment, these militias and other local armed groups assert that they have taken control of several areas in Kayah State.

Soldiers burn 11 villagers alive in northwest Myanmar

Bangkok ■ dpa /

Eyewitnesses and local media reports in Myanmar said that soldiers burned alive 11 villagers, including minors, in the northwest of the country.

Pictures of the charred corpses with their hands tied behind their appearance appeared amidst smoke in video clips and photos that were circulated on social media the day before yesterday.

Reports said that 100 soldiers stormed Don Taw village in Salinge town of Sagaing district in Myanmar on Tuesday morning.

The brother of one of the victims told the German news agency (dpa): “My brother was only a 22-year-old university student.

And when the soldiers came, we ran, but he fell into their hands and was killed.”

Dr. Sasa, a spokesman for the opposition Government of National Unity, published the names of 11 villagers, including five minors, the youngest being 14 and a young man aged 19.

"These actions are war crimes of the first degree," the spokesman said in a statement posted on social media.

These are pure and clear terrorist acts.”

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news