The military in Myanmar has come under severe pressure in several parts of the country due to the armed resistance of ethnic groups. Particularly fierce fighting has been going on since the end of October in eastern Shan State on the border with China. "Since the beginning of the operation, more than 154 bases and outposts of the Myanmar military have been occupied by the fraternal alliance," a spokesman for ISP Myanmar, a non-governmental think tank, told the German Press Agency on Tuesday.
The alliance includes three groups: the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and the Arakan Army (AA). All three have traditionally been very close to China. According to its own information and media reports, the fraternal alliance has also succeeded in capturing at least six small towns in the region.
MNDAA spokesman Li Kyarwen told dpa that at least 150 soldiers of the ruling junta had been killed. Initially, the information could not be independently verified. According to the UN, tens of thousands of people are fleeing in the border region alone. Many are trying to get to China.
For the junta, it is one of the biggest military challenges since it came to power in February 2021. Since the coup d'état of the generals, the former Burma - a multi-ethnic state - has descended into chaos and violence. The ousted former head of government Aung San Suu Kyi is in prison.
Fighting in different parts of the country
In other states, such as Chin State on the border with India and Bangladesh, Karenni State in the far east and in the Sagaing region, armed groups are said to have risen up against the military and taken over various towns and military posts. Nearly 450 soldiers have already laid down their arms in various parts of the country, the newspaper "The Irrawaddy" reported. "However, the actual number could be higher as more and more junta positions are abandoned," the paper wrote.
In view of the successes of the resistance groups, the president of the crisis-ridden state, Myint Swe, who was appointed by the junta, had already warned of a disintegration of the country almost two weeks ago. "If the government does not effectively manage the incidents in the border region, it will divide the country into different parts," he said.