ENTRE News – Myanmar’s civil war is raging again at a time when world attention is focused on the Middle East. Recently, it was reported that the Myanmar military junta ‘lost’ in various battles against armed groups spread across various regions and states. Myanmar’s independent media, The Irrawaddy, reported that regime military forces were successfully repulsed by the People’s Defense Force (PDF) and ethnic armed organizations (EAO) after being involved in fighting in Karen and Shan states as well as the Sagaing and Mandalay regions .
According to a number of observers, Myanmar’s civil resistance over the last six months has been surprising because it has been quietly successful and has the potential to bring down the military junta. The following are some of the latest facts about Myanmar’s civil war :
Thousands of Civilians Died
Thousands of civilians have died and nearly three million people have been displaced as a result of Myanmar’s ongoing conflict since the 2021 military coup. Thousands of middle class people are also currently fleeing to the forests to fight alongside ethnic groups against the military junta. This never-ending situation forces the country’s land to be covered in mines that could explode at any time.
The health crisis is serious
The public health condition in Myanmar is also currently on the verge of disaster. In large part because the military regime targeted attacks on doctors. Among all health problems, what really needs to be highlighted is child vaccination. Currently, vaccinations for children have been discontinued. Malaria cases also exploded. At the same time, experts are worried that HIV and tuberculosis are spreading massively.
Resistance groups seize territory
Since October, resistance groups have succeeded in seizing large areas of Myanmar. Generally, the areas captured were near the border. Some groups have also attacked the capital, Naypyidaw, with drones and made advances in some border areas. The Karen ethnic group in recent weeks has also succeeded in capturing a trading city located east of Yangon, along the Thai border. Reporting from The New York Times, progress was also recorded in Kachin state and in Rakhine state. Some analysts predict the Arakan Army, an ethnic militia in Rakhine, could take Sittwe, the country’s heavily fortified capital.
Junta leaders and generals ‘disappeared’
A number of Myanmar military generals, including junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, are reported to have ‘disappeared.’ The Irrawaddy reported that the deputy head of the military junta, Soe Win, had not been seen in public for more than two weeks. He disappeared amid rumors that he was seriously injured in a drone attack on April 9.
On April 9, the Southeastern Command military base in Mawlamyine, Mon state, was attacked with drones. At that time, the number two person in the Myanmar military was there to supervise military operations in Myawaddy City, Karen state. Not only Soe Win FOR4D, Min Aung Hlaing was also invisible at the Thingyan celebration at the Pyin Oo Lwin military pavilion, Mandalay. He said he was sick and sent his wife, Kyu Kyu Hia, as a substitute.
There is also news that former Lieutenant General Myint Hlaing was arrested at his home due to allegations of corruption. Myint Hlaing is a close associate of deputy junta chief Maung Aye and served as agriculture minister under Thein and Sein’s administration from 2011-2016.
Two other generals were also nowhere to be seen, giving rise to speculation that they were captured along with Myint Hlaing. They were allegedly arrested for plotting to overthrow Min Aung Hlaing, a claim The Irrawaddy could not verify.