The battle for the border town of Myawaddy in Myanmar has raged for the past three weeks. Rebels and the military are fighting for control of the area.

Kayin State

The ongoing conflict in Myawaddy, a border town in Myanmar, has entered its third week, signaling no end in sight to the power struggle between the military and rebel forces. The area has become a critical point of contention, with fighters from the pro-democracy People's Defence Force (PDF) and the military vying for control. This battle is not just territorial but is symbolic of the broader resistance against the military junta, known as the State Administration Council (SAC).

The conflict has transformed Myawaddy, lying on a pivotal route between the Thai border and Yangon, Myanmar's commercial heart. This area has witnessed severe devastation, with the SAC's bombing campaigns reducing buildings to rubble and displacing the civilian population. Only abandoned cattle occupy the deserted streets, a stark testament to the intensity of the conflict that has left the town in shambles.

The strategic significance of the Asian highway, stretching between Kokorek and Myawaddy, has drawn fierce skirmishes. Although SAC forces have been partially repelled, their presence looms large with fighter jets patrolling the skies, posing a constant threat to the PDF fighters. The rebels, despite their determination, acknowledge the challenges posed by military reinforcements and air strikes, underscoring the precariousness of their control over the area.

A daunting aspect of this conflict for the PDF is not the military's firepower but maintaining cohesion within the opposition ranks. The PDF's leadership emphasizes unity as their paramount concern, over and above the threat of military strikes. An alliance with the Karen ethnic army has bolstered the PDF's efforts, enabling a cooperative effort that extends their mobility and effectiveness across the region.

The human toll of the conflict is evident, with casualties on both sides marking the bitter reality of this struggle. The PDF has had to confront losses, notably through drone attacks—a relatively new tactic employed by the military. Despite the grim repercussions, the resolve among the PDF fighters remains unshaken, driven by a sense of duty to their fallen comrades and the overarching aim of achieving victory in what they view as a pivotal revolution.

As the battle rages on, the community mourns its losses, with Buddhist monks conducting last rites for the deceased. These solemn ceremonies underscore the profound personal sacrifices made by individuals caught in the crossfire, all in pursuit of a cause that transcends their immediate reality. The fight for Myawaddy has thus become emblematic of the broader struggle for democracy and autonomy within Myanmar, with both sides entrenched in a conflict that shows no signs of abating.



On the frontlines of Myanmar's border battle

Fighters from the pro-democracy People's Defence Force take defensive positions. This is the main road between the Thai border and Yangon, Myanmar's commercial hub. The town leveled by bombs from the military junta, or SAC, State Administration Council. Civilians long gone, their cattle roam freely in the streets, but even they know not to go too far, beyond the barrier is no man's land. This is the Asian highway between Kokorek and Myawaddy, an area that the SAC have been pushed out of, but it's still not completely under control of the pro-democracy forces and there are fighter jets in the air, so they're being very careful about exposing themselves here. The battle along the Asian highway has been fierce. Relief columns of military reinforcements, a force of 2,000 men have tried to break through to the border. Most have been stopped, say the fighters, but some did slip through, and a constant threat from the air that even their heaviest weapons can do little to repel. The man in charge of PDF operations says his greatest concern isn't the military junta, but unity within the opposition. We are not afraid of their weapons. We fear only one thing apart from artillery or airstrikes, and that is division. We do not care about any of their powerful weapons. My only fear is that we will not be united. But the alliance between the Karen ethnic army and the pro-democracy forces is holding well. PDF fighters under Karen command travel freely through the countryside, logging tracks turned into supply chain highways hidden under the jungle canopy. They've taken casualties. This funeral for fighters killed in drone attacks, a new weapon the military has deployed. I'm sad whenever our comrades die, but we are mentally prepared for sacrifices and casualties. Sometimes I think about quitting the fight, but I don't want my comrades to have died for nothing. So I keep fighting until the revolution succeeds. Buddhist monks chant prayers for the dead, the last rites. Rebels who died for a cause and a victory they now won't taste. Tony Cheng, Al Jazeera, Cayen State, Myanmar.

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