The ongoing conflict in Myanmar, often referred to as the Myanmar Civil War, is a complex and multifaceted struggle involving multiple actors and has deep historical roots. Here’s an overview of the current situation and its background:
Background
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has a long history of ethnic conflict dating back to its independence from British colonial rule in 1948. The country is ethnically diverse, with over 135 recognized ethnic groups. Since independence, various ethnic minority groups have been fighting for greater autonomy or independence, leading to numerous armed conflicts. The Burmese military, known as the Tatmadaw, has historically sought to suppress these ethnic insurgencies, often through brutal means.
The 2021 Military Coup
The most recent phase of the conflict began on February 1, 2021, when the military, led by General Min Aung Hlaing, seized power in a coup, overthrowing the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD). The military justified the coup by alleging widespread electoral fraud in the November 2020 elections, a claim widely dismissed by international observers.
Nationwide Civil Resistance
The coup triggered widespread protests and a civil disobedience movement across the country. The resistance included mass protests, strikes, and a widespread refusal to cooperate with the military regime. The military’s response was violent, leading to thousands of deaths and arrests. The brutality of the military’s actions has drawn widespread international condemnation.
The Rise of Armed Resistance
As peaceful protests were met with increasing violence, some civilians began to form armed groups. These include the People’s Defense Force (PDF), which is the armed wing of the shadow National Unity Government (NUG), composed of deposed lawmakers and activists. The NUG has declared a “people’s defensive war” against the military regime.
Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs)
Several long-established Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs), which have been fighting the central government for autonomy for decades, have either intensified their operations or entered into alliances with the PDF and NUG. These groups include the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Karen National Union (KNU), and others. This has led to a situation where the military is fighting on multiple fronts, both in urban areas against the PDF and in rural regions against various EAOs.
Humanitarian Crisis
The conflict has led to a severe humanitarian crisis. Thousands of civilians have been killed, and tens of thousands have been displaced, fleeing both the military’s attacks and clashes between the Tatmadaw and armed resistance groups. The military has been accused of committing widespread atrocities, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and the burning of villages.
International Response
The international community has largely condemned the coup and the subsequent crackdown. Several countries have imposed sanctions on Myanmar’s military leaders and military-owned enterprises. However, the situation has been complicated by geopolitical factors, including China’s significant influence in the region, as well as varying responses from ASEAN countries.
Current Situation
As of 2024, the conflict in Myanmar remains unresolved, with no clear end in sight. The military continues to control the major cities, while various resistance forces and ethnic armed groups control significant portions of the countryside. Peace talks have repeatedly failed, and the country remains deeply polarized.
The ongoing violence and instability have led to widespread economic collapse, with poverty and food insecurity worsening across the country. The international community continues to call for dialogue and a return to democratic governance, but prospects for a peaceful resolution remain uncertain.
This conflict is one of the most severe humanitarian crises in Southeast Asia, with significant regional implications, particularly in terms of refugee flows, human trafficking, and cross-border violence.
CramDead on
It’ll always be Burma to me
Mean_Ratio9575 on
Could y’all imagine the American version of the “Karen National Union” armed resistance?
This looks fake, these people look like they are like 30 feet away
MasterBaiterNJ on
I don’t know who to root for in this conflict I’ll admit to being mostly uneducated about the sides. All I can say is full color movie like shots of these young dudes getting dropped it’s an insane time to be alive and watching this stuff.
Possible_Spy on
damn, all these guys look unarmed. I hope I am watching bad guys get killed right?
14 Comments
Junta or Rebel?
“In battle”
Or they ducked after a bullet whizzed by..
Unarmed and not in uniform?
Dang the first one looked very young
An overview of whats going on in Myanmar:
The ongoing conflict in Myanmar, often referred to as the Myanmar Civil War, is a complex and multifaceted struggle involving multiple actors and has deep historical roots. Here’s an overview of the current situation and its background:
Background
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has a long history of ethnic conflict dating back to its independence from British colonial rule in 1948. The country is ethnically diverse, with over 135 recognized ethnic groups. Since independence, various ethnic minority groups have been fighting for greater autonomy or independence, leading to numerous armed conflicts. The Burmese military, known as the Tatmadaw, has historically sought to suppress these ethnic insurgencies, often through brutal means.
The 2021 Military Coup
The most recent phase of the conflict began on February 1, 2021, when the military, led by General Min Aung Hlaing, seized power in a coup, overthrowing the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD). The military justified the coup by alleging widespread electoral fraud in the November 2020 elections, a claim widely dismissed by international observers.
Nationwide Civil Resistance
The coup triggered widespread protests and a civil disobedience movement across the country. The resistance included mass protests, strikes, and a widespread refusal to cooperate with the military regime. The military’s response was violent, leading to thousands of deaths and arrests. The brutality of the military’s actions has drawn widespread international condemnation.
The Rise of Armed Resistance
As peaceful protests were met with increasing violence, some civilians began to form armed groups. These include the People’s Defense Force (PDF), which is the armed wing of the shadow National Unity Government (NUG), composed of deposed lawmakers and activists. The NUG has declared a “people’s defensive war” against the military regime.
Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs)
Several long-established Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs), which have been fighting the central government for autonomy for decades, have either intensified their operations or entered into alliances with the PDF and NUG. These groups include the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Karen National Union (KNU), and others. This has led to a situation where the military is fighting on multiple fronts, both in urban areas against the PDF and in rural regions against various EAOs.
Humanitarian Crisis
The conflict has led to a severe humanitarian crisis. Thousands of civilians have been killed, and tens of thousands have been displaced, fleeing both the military’s attacks and clashes between the Tatmadaw and armed resistance groups. The military has been accused of committing widespread atrocities, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and the burning of villages.
International Response
The international community has largely condemned the coup and the subsequent crackdown. Several countries have imposed sanctions on Myanmar’s military leaders and military-owned enterprises. However, the situation has been complicated by geopolitical factors, including China’s significant influence in the region, as well as varying responses from ASEAN countries.
Current Situation
As of 2024, the conflict in Myanmar remains unresolved, with no clear end in sight. The military continues to control the major cities, while various resistance forces and ethnic armed groups control significant portions of the countryside. Peace talks have repeatedly failed, and the country remains deeply polarized.
The ongoing violence and instability have led to widespread economic collapse, with poverty and food insecurity worsening across the country. The international community continues to call for dialogue and a return to democratic governance, but prospects for a peaceful resolution remain uncertain.
This conflict is one of the most severe humanitarian crises in Southeast Asia, with significant regional implications, particularly in terms of refugee flows, human trafficking, and cross-border violence.
It’ll always be Burma to me
Could y’all imagine the American version of the “Karen National Union” armed resistance?
>several dead
[How do you know that?](https://youtu.be/IdQwKPVGQsY?si=vluvCvB26KMgDy3u&t=370)
how do they take a video from the lens ?
This looks fake, these people look like they are like 30 feet away
I don’t know who to root for in this conflict I’ll admit to being mostly uneducated about the sides. All I can say is full color movie like shots of these young dudes getting dropped it’s an insane time to be alive and watching this stuff.
damn, all these guys look unarmed. I hope I am watching bad guys get killed right?
World’s longest civil war