Lessons from Ahlawbum

The following story was submitted by Htet Myat, a former soldier, through the work of Breaking Brainwashed.

We are all familiar with the Ahlawbum battle from some years ago, where the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) successfully captured the military base. However, I don't believe we all have the same level of understanding. I, on the other hand, have firsthand knowledge of the truth because I was present there.

Ahlawbum is an incredibly remote location, making it challenging to send reinforcements when needed. It was constructed just before the Myanmar-Chinese border. The base is under the command of a battalion, and in addition to the main Ahlawbum base, there is also Kar Kin Kone and a smaller base hill nearby. I became aware of these details as I accompanied the tactical commander to those locations just before the battle. Thankfully, our visit occurred before the inspection, as I too would have had to be on the run.

During that time, our primary focus was the hill inside Kha La Ya 142 in Dawthponeyan. The tactical commander received orders to inspect the Ahlawbum base and address any deficiencies in its defenses. As a result, I gathered the necessary supplies and accompanied the commander to the base. We set out early in the morning, taking the side road in front of Kha Ma Ya 438. The commander of Kha Ma Ya 438 arranged motorcycles for us, which were suitable for the road conditions. As we drove along, we came across a creek, the water reaching up to our thighs. We had to push our cycles due to water entering the exhaust pipe. Despite the challenging conditions, we continued on the muddy road during the rainy season. The journey proved more arduous than expected, as we had to push the cycles up some slopes, even though they were not overloaded. Initially, the cycles were manageable, but later on, we had to abandon them to climb steep cliffs; otherwise, they would have been riding us. We departed in the morning and finally arrived at Ahlawbum in the evening.

Just before reaching the base, the base commander warmly welcomed us at the foot of the hill. The first thing that caught my attention was the thick mist shrouding the entire base, obscuring visibility. Upon our arrival on the hill, it began snowing heavily. The entire team was freezing due to the harsh weather conditions. I had to wear clothes provided by the battalion commander's personal assistant since I hadn't brought extra clothing. It was a challenging experience, particularly given the unfavorable weather conditions.

The base also faced significant food scarcity. Being situated in such an isolated place, the people stationed there often experienced starvation. They had to rely on dry rations, canned food, and vegetables grown on-site. It was a harsh environment for the officers stationed at the base. "If this base were to come under siege, it would fall immediately. Reinforcements would not arrive quickly, and even if they did, they would likely only find bodies. I don't understand why they decided to establish a base here. It would have been wiser to have one or two additional bases in the vicinity," we would often discuss among ourselves.

The following day, the tactical commander proceeded with the inspection of the base. He provided instructions to everyone on the necessary improvements. He meticulously documented the state of the base and issued orders to the base commanders and soldiers regarding crucial matters. Afterward, we returned to Dawthponeyan, following the same route we had taken earlier. The return journey proved to be even more grueling than before. The road was incredibly slippery, causing the cycles and people to repeatedly exchange places. A few months later, we received news that the Ahlawbum base had fallen, just as we had predicted. The troops stationed there had to flee for their lives, resulting in numerous casualties. The opposing side seized all the ammunition from the base, and the army suffered heavy losses, as evident from the online videos depicting the aftermath.

The military made preparations to retake the base, but it exposed the incompetence of the leaders within the State Administration Council (SAC) in terms of management and strategic calculations. They ordered Myo Thit Kha Ma Ya 320 and Momeik Kha Ma Ya 437 to engage in battle. The commander of Kha Ma Ya 320, Lieutenant Colonel Aung Zaw Htet, was consistently indecisive and plagued by worry. His timid nature only exacerbated the situation. I'm aware of these traits because I served in the same battalion as him during my earlier years. Due to these shortcomings, they failed in their attempt to reclaim the base.

The next battalion, Kha Ma Ya 437 from Momeik, had recently transitioned from being under regional military command to regimental command. They had primarily served in security roles and lacked significant battle experience.

The assigned commander for these battalions was a tactical commander who had arrived only a few days earlier. Despite their high rank, they were unfamiliar with the terrain and lacked sufficient knowledge about the battalions they were supposed to lead. Their understanding of their subordinates was also lacking.

These leaders found themselves thrust into operational control immediately after being transferred when they were hoping for some respite. The disregard shown by the military towards their fellow soldiers was evident. It wasn't surprising that many of them fled the battle. The outcome was apparent to all of us, even before the orders were given. The high-ranking officers responsible for decision-making displayed a remarkable lack of competence.

Nevertheless, they proceeded with the battle. However, due to their poor time management, the enemy quickly became aware of their presence as they attempted to ascend 320 Hill. The enemy pursued them in large numbers, and what unfolded next was beyond anything I had ever heard before. The tactical commander had to flee as fast as he could, narrowly escaping a bullet that grazed his helmet (which should have penetrated it). Both battalion and company commanders also ran for their lives. A friend from my batch shared his harrowing experience with me, saying, "I consider myself lucky to be alive. There were so many close calls, bullets raining down from all directions. Our regiment's teacher was terribly unlucky, as he was hit directly by an artillery shell. The enemy counterattacks were swift, forcing us to shoot and retreat. We set out to reclaim our base, but as you witnessed, we could only run for our lives." The news was devastating.

Only after the events had transpired did they attempt to blame the battalions and commanders, accusing the soldiers of failing to follow orders. The Bhamo hospital was filled with numerous wounded soldiers. Every ward was occupied by the injured, with some missing limbs and others connected to blood transfusion sets. At times, we could hear moans of pain emanating from the surgery room. The sight was incredibly disheartening. Many soldiers scattered in all directions during the battle, some were apprehended by Chinese authorities and later returned to us, while others ventured dangerously close to enemy camps without any means of communication. We had to fire our guns to signal them back.

In some instances, wives were offering alms to monks on the seventh day following their husbands' deaths when suddenly, the supposedly deceased individuals returned home wounded. The wives, thinking they were encountering ghosts, refused to let them back into their homes. One of my comrades recounted his experience, saying, "I climbed the hill after the battle, hoping to find my comrades there, but all I found were lifeless bodies strewn everywhere. I couldn't perform proper burials; all I could do was cover the bodies with longyis. There were numerous guns, but I couldn't bury them. I could only conceal them under leaves to keep them hidden from the enemy. On my way back, I stumbled upon four of my missing subordinates, and I brought them back with me. Through him, we were able to confirm some of the casualties. Others who were lost in the forest had to hitchhike on watermelon trucks. There were countless lives lost, and we couldn't retrieve their bodies. To make matters worse, we lost the formation, making it impossible to determine who was dead and who was still missing. The bodies of our fallen comrades lay rotting on the battlefield.

Back at the quarters, it was like descending into hell. Wives and families of the deceased cried out in anguish. They were trapped in a state of uncertainty, not knowing if their husbands were truly gone or simply lost. They didn't receive the closure they desperately needed, only hollow words of condolence like "I'm sorry." Among them, two sisters both lost their husbands in the battle, and one of them was pregnant. Overwhelmed by grief, they collapsed, and we had to revive one of them. The scene was a haunting manifestation of their suffering.

I feel compelled to express my thoughts on how higher-ranking officers regard their comrades. Some of those who returned had lost their guns, while others salvaged as many as they could. Instead of commending those who managed to retrieve firearms, blame was placed on those who couldn't. "How could you not bring back our guns?" they would chastise. Actions were taken against individuals in the lower ranks, and even those at the base were held accountable for their perceived shortcomings. None of them expressed genuine relief that their comrades had returned alive. It was a stark reminder of how little they cared for their subordinates.

Additionally, there was a troubling habit of assigning blame and conducting trials to determine who was responsible for the failure. However, the ones responsible for issuing such orders often avoided accountability, while innocent individuals faced trial. Leaders should understand the capabilities of their people and assign them to appropriate roles. They should not bear the burden of worrying about every detail during wartime. Their subordinates look to them for guidance on the battlefield, and it is crucial for leaders to recognize this. They must be aware that their people are eagerly awaiting their orders. Leaders on the ground should maintain composure, issuing clear and decisive instructions in a timely manner. They should exemplify bravery and ensure their soldiers are prepared for battle at all times through thorough training. Well-prepared and well-trained soldiers yield better results in combat. Additionally, leaders must develop contingency plans, anticipating unexpected challenges that arise during battle. They should never assume they will always have the upper hand. Those who assume leadership positions must possess true leadership skills.

There are countless more lessons to be gleaned from this event, many of which I haven't touched upon. My hope is that some of the insights I've shared can contribute to our collective efforts in achieving a successful revolution.