What has life in Myanmar been like after the violent military coup of February 2021?

On 27 October 2023, the same day the Brotherhood Alliance issued a statement announcing Operation 1027, their military operation “aimed at eradicating the military dictatorship that the entire Myanmar population is united in opposing”, the National Unity Government’s (NUG) Ministry of Defence stated that they would “join forces with the Brotherhood Alliance in Operation 1027. We will actively engage in the required operations to collaborate effectively in their endeavours.” The NUG’s rather ambiguous statement seems to imply that Operation 1027 was not their initiative. It most likely was not, and it could hardly have been a coincidence that fighting erupted shortly after China had begun a crackdown on the scam centres operating from sanctuaries near or in more or less the same areas as the heaviest fighting took place.

Now, the problem has been dealt with, and the Chinese must be very pleased with the outcome of the Brotherhood Alliance’s campaign. But it would be too simplistic to look at Operation 1027 as a Chinese conspiracy, or to underestimate the antijunta sentiments and determination of the Brotherhood Alliance, the allied Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and local People’s Defence Forces (PDF) to fight for what they believe in. Resistance is everywhere, in...

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