Myanmar’s parallel National Unity Government (NUG) says its armed wings, the People’s Defence Forces (PDF), have matured and are getting closer to the level of a professional army, over a year after they were first formed. “More than a year after they were formed, PDFs have achieved certain progress in training, grouping, command, arms and […]Read More

Cambodia has ignored an appeal by Myanmar-based as well as regional and international civil society organizations not to invite the Myanmar regime’s defence minister to the upcoming ASEAN defence ministers’ meeting The meeting, which is scheduled to be held this week, will be joined by defence ministers from 10 countries. Cambodia currently holds the rotating […]Read More

Many books have been written on the contemporary history of Myanmar. It is impossible to exclude Myanmar’s military and its generals if you are to write a book on Myanmar’s history since her independence. Some ex-military officers have told their side of the story in books. But are they credible? To put it simply, history […]Read More

With popular armed resistance against Myanmar’s military regime having raged for more than one year now, the need for weapons and other support is becoming a pressing issue for some resistance groups on the ground. Faced with near-daily offensives by junta forces in their areas, in a bid to tackle the supply shortages some resistance […]Read More

A recent meeting of China and India’s ambassadors with Myanmar’s junta-appointed electoral body has raised concerns that the two neighboring countries are offering additional disguised support to the military regime. Chen Hai, China’s ambassador to Myanmar, and Vinay Kumar, India’s ambassador to Myanmar, held separate meetings with Union Election Commission (UEC) head U Thein Soe […]Read More

Amid rising armed resistance against his rule in Myanmar, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has invited the leaders of ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) for talks “to end armed conflict”. However, given his recent statement that his regime would not hold talks with the opposition, the shadow National Unity Government and its armed wing People’s Defence […]Read More

Strapped for hard currency, the Myanmar junta has moved to seize foreign currencies in the country by ordering that foreign exchange earned by locals must be converted into the local currency at the “official rate” within “one working day”. Financial experts and the business community voiced concern that the order would not only hurt the […]Read More

Myanmar’s parallel civilian National Unity Government (NUG) has warned China that any effort to build a partnership with the military regime would be rejected by Myanmar’s people and could seriously damage China’s international reputation. The warning was issued in a statement by the NUG’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met […]Read More

Challenging the regime’s legitimacy at home and abroad, Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government (NUG) foreign minister Daw Zin Mar Aung, 45, has engaged with foreign governments and parliaments, international aid agencies and Myanmar’s many armed groups. However, the elected lawmaker from the ousted National League for Democracy and winner of the 2012 International Women of […]Read More

Myanmar’s junta has suffered heavy casualties in Mindat Township, Chin State, since March 26, according to the Chinland Defense Force (CDF). CDF fighters have repeatedly ambushed a junta convoy advancing to Matupi through Mindat since March 26. Around 20 junta soldiers are believed to have been killed and many more injured in ambushes, according to […]Read More