The People’s Defence Force has suffered a major symbolic setback by losing control of the first town it seized – accusing the Myanmar military of destroying Kawlin in order to reclaim it – but its troops vow to fight on.
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The People’s Defence Force has suffered a major symbolic setback by losing control of the first town it seized – accusing the Myanmar military of destroying Kawlin in order to reclaim it – but its troops vow to fight on.
Much of the attention in Myanmar’s transition has been focused on the country’s former military government and its pro-democracy movement. Dr Matthew Mullen, author of the recently published Pathways that changed Myanmar, argues that the smaller community-level movements also had a significant impact on political changes in the country in recent years. Mullen spoke to JusticeInfo about the impacts of sanctions, how the top-down transition could be a threat to community-level movements and the role played by the so-called “third force”.

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Myanmar enters 2021 with more friends than foes
The early delivery of vaccines is one of the many boons of the country’s geopolitics, but to really take advantage, Myanmar must bury the legacy of its isolationist past.
Will the Kayin BGF go quietly?
The Kayin State Border Guard Force has come under intense pressure from the Tatmadaw over its extensive, controversial business interests and there’s concern the ultimatum could trigger fresh hostilities in one of the country’s most war-torn areas.