Still Standing

“Despite the threat of arrest, of terrible treatment upon arrest, whether sexual violence or rape, being tortured to death, people are protesting military rule. Every day, there are flash mobs in villages around the country protesting military rule! The courage of the people of Myanmar to do this for dozens of months, it is astounding.”

Zach Abuza, a professor at the National War College and expert in Southeast Asian security, came on the podcast to provide an in-depth analysis of the Burmese military's deteriorating position nearly three years after the coup. He describes the military's challenges, including fighting on multiple fronts across regions like Chin State, Magwe, and Shan State, as it faces a resilient opposition from People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) and ethnic armed groups.

Abuza explains that the Burmese military is strained by resource shortages, increasing defections, and battlefield losses. Yet, the junta persists with outdated strategies of repression, such as the "Four Cuts" campaign, which aims to cut off civilian support for resistance forces but has only strengthened public resistance. He highlights the regime’s economic mismanagement, with the economy contracting by 12%, inflation soaring, and 60% of the population now living below the poverty line.

While the military remains unable to defeat the resistance, Abuza also notes that resistance forces, despite their innovative tactics, lack the capacity to decisively overthrow the military. He raises critical questions about Myanmar's future, especially regarding the possibility of prolonged conflict and the challenges of building a post-military governance structure.

For so many months, he underscores how the people of Myanmar have stood defiant against the shadow of military rule. Abuza’s words illuminate a picture of quiet villages turned battlegrounds of courage, where ordinary citizens stage flash mobs and protests under the constant threat of unspeakable violence. Arrest is not just a possibility—it’s a sentence to unimaginable torment: torture, rape, even death. And yet, they persist.

Each act of defiance, however fleeting, is a testament to their unyielding resolve. These are not just protests; they are declarations of a collective spirit that refuses to be crushed, a daily reminder to the military that they have not won and will not win. The endurance of these demonstrations—every chant, every raised fist—reflects a strength that transcends fear.

To Abuza, the courage of Myanmar’s people is a story of hope against the odds, of resilience in the face of oppression. It’s a story that demands to be told, remembered, and honored. And as their fight continues, it calls upon the world to bear witness, to stand in solidarity, and to act.