Can Myanmar’s New ‘People’s Defense Force’ Succeed?
The force is intended as a prelude to the eventual establishment of a Federal Union Army to battle the military junta.
May 06, 2021
Anti-coup protesters flash the three-finger salute during a rally in Yangon, Myanmar on May 4, 2021.
Credit: AP Photo
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Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government (NUG) announced yesterday that it had formed a “people’s defense force” to protect its supporters from attacks and consolidate opposition to the military junta that seized power in February.
In a statement, it said the move was a prelude to the establishment of a Federal Union Army and that it had the responsibility to “make effective reforms in the security sector in order to terminate the 70 year long civil war.”
Published on: Tuesday, May 04, 2021
By: AFP
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A protester holding a placard supporting the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) during a demonstration against the military coup in Hpakant in Myanmar’s Kachin state
YANGON: A leading Myanmar ethnic rebel army said it had shot down a military helicopter on Monday, a day after a renewed junta crackdown on anti-coup protests left at least five civilians dead.
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) said it downed the helicopter gunship during fierce clashes near the town of Momauk in the country’s far north.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and seized power on February 1.
Burmese rebels claim to down army chopper
Reuters
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA), one of Myanmar’s most powerful rebel groups, yesterday said that it had shot down a helicopter after returning fire following air strikes by the military, a group official said.
The UN estimates that tens of thousands of civilians have fled their homes as a result of the fighting between the military and ethnic minority insurgents in remote northern and eastern frontier regions.
The conflict intensified after Burmese generals seized power on Feb. 1, ousting the elected government led by Burmese State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi.
A handout provided by Kachinwaves yesterday shows a protester holding a placard supporting the Kachin Independence Army and Kachin Independence Organization at a demonstration against a military coup in Hpakant, Myanmar.
BANGKOK and KUALA LUMPUR
Forced from his home by conflict in 2018, Zau Lawn is now trying to bring aid to some of the thousands of civilians stranded by fresh clashes in the aftermath of Myanmar’s military coup.
Since March, Zau Lawn, a pseudonym for a 24-year-old divinity student in northern Myanmar’s Kachin State who asked that his real name not be used, has broken nightly curfews to travel clandestinely from the state capital, Myitkyina, to the forests of Injangyang township more than 50 kilometres north.
He takes a three-day journey by car, boat, and motorcycle, risking run-ins with security forces, to help people trapped by conflict between military junta forces and the armed wing of the Kachin Independence Organisation – among the largest of more than 20 ethnic armed groups lining the country’s border areas.
FILE - In this March 30, 2021, file photo, Myanmar soldiers stand at a small army camp along the river bank near the border of Myanmar and Thailand. Ethnic Karen guerrillas said they captured the Myanmar army base Tuesday, April 27, 2021 in what represents a morale-boosting action for those opposing the military s takeover of the country s civilian government in February. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File) world
Myanmar airstrikes on ethnic forces reported on 2 fronts Today 03:11 am JST Today | 06:39 am JST BANGKOK
Myanmar government forces launched airstrikes against ethnic minority guerrillas in two areas of the country on Wednesday, local reports said.
Fighting has been raging daily in northern Myanmar in territory controlled by the Kachin Independence Organization, representing the Kachin minority, and in the east by the Karen National Union, representing the Karen.