Latest news with #ThreeBrotherhoodAlliance
10-05-2025
- Politics
Myammar's military chief has first meeting with China's leader since taking power
BANGKOK -- The chief of Myanmar's military government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, has for the first time since seizing power four years ago met with President Xi Jinping of China, a top ally of his military government, state-run media in the Southeast Asian nation reported Saturday. The Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported that Xi pledged to provide assistance for recovery after Myanmar's devastating earthquake in March and aid in efforts to end the country's civil war. The two leaders met Friday in Moscow on the sidelines of the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Its report said they also discussed 'bilateral relations, enhancing cooperation in all sectors, and cooperating in regional stability and peace.' China has been using its influence with ethnic rebel organizations to ease their pressure on the military government in an apparent effort to stabilize it. China, along with Russia, is a major arms supplier to Myanmar's military in its war against pro-democracy and ethnic minority resistance forces. Beijing is also Myanmar's biggest trading partner and has invested billions of dollars in mines, oil and gas pipelines, and other infrastructure. Its interests in security in Myanmar are especially strong because the two nations share an 890-mile (1,440-kilometer) border China's government has maintained good working relations with Myanmar's ruling military, which is shunned and sanctioned by many Western nations for the army's February 2021 takeover from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and for major human rights violations. It is also one of the countries providing major relief and reconstruction assistance after the 7.7-magnitude March 28 earthquake that killed more than 3,700 people in Myanmar and injured more than 5,100. The quake worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis, with more than 3 million people displaced from their homes and nearly 20 million in need due to the war, according to the United Nations. Beijing has been concerned about instability that threatens its interests in Myanmar since Myanmar's army suffered unprecedented battlefield defeats over the past few years, especially in areas near the Chinese border. An offensive began in October 2023, by the ' Three Brotherhood Alliance, ' comprising the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Arakan Army and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, was able to quickly capture towns and overrun military bases and command centers and strategic cities along the Chinese border in northeastern Shan state. It was widely seen at the time as having Beijing's tacit support to help stamp out rampant organized crime activities in areas controlled by ethnic Chinese. In early 2024, Beijing helped broker a ceasefire, but that quickly fell apart when the alliance launched new attacks. Myanmar's ruling generals and China's government showed concern as pro-democracy guerrillas and armed ethnic minority groups, sometimes working hand in hand, gained the initiative in fighting. The alliance's offensive lost momentum after China shut down border crossings, cut electricity to Myanmar towns and took other measures to discourage the fighting. Under increasing pressure from Beijing, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, or MNDAA, withdrew its forces and administration authorities last month from the strategically important town of Lashio in northeastern Myanmar, which hosts a major regional military headquarters but which the rebel group seized in August last year. A member of the MNDAA told The Associated Press on Saturday that the army's soldiers had already re-entered and and reestablished themselves in bases inside the town at the end of April. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to release information. Tar Pan La and Lway Yay Oo, spokespersons for the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, said during an online press conference on May 4 that local residents had been facing difficulties as China and Myanmar's military government blocked trade into areas it controlled. Tar Pan La said China had continuously urged the group both in person and through messages to avoid clashes along the border and areas of Chinese investments. The TNLA said in a statement released on its Telegram channel on Saturday that the military carries out daily airstrikes in areas it controls, although it extended until the end of May a ceasefire it declared in the wake of the earthquake.
Arab News
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Myanmar earthquake a double blow to the junta
On March 28, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, leveling communities, killing more than 3,700 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless. The epicenter, near Mandalay, shook the nation's heart, collapsing bridges, pagodas and homes and exposing the fragility of a country already fractured by a brutal civil war. Beyond the physical devastation, this catastrophe has reshaped the psychological landscape of Myanmar's conflict, delivering a profound boost to the resistance forces battling the junta. In a nation steeped in superstition, many rebels interpret the quake as divine retribution against the military government, fueling their morale and momentum in a war that has raged since the 2021 coup. The civil war, pitting the junta against a coalition of ethnic armed groups and the People's Defence Force under the national unity government, has been a grinding, multifront struggle. The earthquake has added a new dimension, straining the junta's resources and exposing its vulnerabilities. Mandalay, a junta stronghold, suffered extensive damage, with more than 65,000 buildings affected, including critical infrastructure like hospitals and bridges. The military, already stretched thin by resistance offensives, has been forced to divert troops and funds to relief efforts, weakening its grip on contested regions. In Sagaing, where the city remains under junta control but the countryside is dominated by resistance militias, the quake's destruction has disrupted supply lines and communication networks, hampering military operations. Many rebels interpret the quake as divine retribution against the military government, fueling their morale and momentum Dr. Azeem Ibrahim This logistical burden comes at a critical moment. The resistance has made significant gains since the launch of Operation 1027 by the Three Brotherhood Alliance in October 2023. The alliance, comprising the Arakan Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, has seized key territories, including Lashio in Shan State. The earthquake's timing has created openings for further advances. As political analyst Kyaw Hsan Hlaing noted, the junta's preoccupation with disaster response has allowed groups like the Arakan Army to consolidate control over towns like Falam in Chin State. The national unity government's truce declaration, allowing only defensive operations until April 20, enabled resistance forces to exploit these gaps, while the junta's continued airstrikes — more than 120 since the quake, according to the UN — have drawn international condemnation and further alienated civilians. But the earthquake's impact transcends material losses. In Myanmar, where Buddhist cosmology and superstition permeate daily life, natural disasters are often imbued with spiritual significance. For many in the resistance, the quake is seen as a divine verdict on the junta's brutality. Since the 2021 coup, the military has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and razed civilian infrastructure, earning widespread hatred. The quake's devastation of junta-controlled areas, particularly Mandalay's cultural and religious sites, has been interpreted by some rebels as cosmic justice. Social media posts from resistance fighters, reported by local outlets, describe the earthquake as 'the earth rejecting the generals' tyranny' and a sign that 'the heavens stand with the people.' This narrative resonates deeply in a country where omens and portents shape perceptions of legitimacy. The psychological boost cannot be overstated. In a war where morale is as critical as ammunition, the belief that righteousness is on their side has galvanized resistance fighters. The junta's legitimacy, already eroded by its violent suppression of protests and conscription drives, has taken another hit. Reports from displaced communities in Kayah State highlight a growing sense among civilians that the junta's misfortunes signal its impending collapse. This sentiment is amplified by the resistance's narrative warfare, with sympathetic media outlets framing the quake as a turning point. The capture of strategic locations post-quake, often unreported as ceasefire violations by pro-resistance platforms, underscores how this perception of divine favor is translating into battlefield gains. In a war where morale is as critical as ammunition, the belief that righteousness is on their side has galvanized resistance fighters Dr. Azeem Ibrahim However, the resistance's momentum is not without constraints. China, a key backer of the junta, has exerted significant influence over the conflict's trajectory. The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army's decision this month to hand Lashio back to the junta, under Chinese pressure, highlighted Beijing's ability to dictate outcomes. China's growing economic stakes in Myanmar, including the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, make it wary of prolonged instability. While the earthquake has temporarily shifted focus to humanitarian aid — China dispatched more than 30 rescue teams and some $13.7 million in relief — Beijing's long-term strategy remains stabilizing the junta to protect its interests. This external pressure could temper the resistance's advances, particularly in northern Shan State, where Chinese influence is strongest. The international response, or lack thereof, further complicates the picture. This geopolitical vacuum has allowed authoritarian powers to bolster the junta's position through aid, undermining the resistance's narrative of global support. The UN has criticized the junta for breaching the ceasefire, but its calls for humanitarian access have gone largely unheeded. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations' attempts at mediation, led by Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim, have yielded little beyond temporary pauses in fighting. For the resistance, the earthquake has been both a tactical opportunity and a psychological catalyst. The junta's weakened state, coupled with the rebels' belief in divine endorsement, has injected new vigor into their campaign. However, the path forward is fraught with challenges. The resistance must navigate China's influence, international indifference and the junta's relentless airstrikes. The quake has shifted the ground — literally and figuratively — but its ultimate impact on Myanmar's civil war remains uncertain. As Richard Horsey, a Myanmar expert, cautioned, the disaster's effects are 'hard to predict.' What is clear is that in a nation where the spiritual and political are intertwined, the earthquake has given the resistance a powerful symbol of hope and righteousness, one they will wield as they continue their fight for freedom.
CNA
22-04-2025
- Politics
- CNA
China sends team to Myanmar to monitor ceasefire, foreign ministry says
In recent days, some junta officials have returned to Lashio, with military vehicles also seen in the northern city on Tuesday, Myanmar media reported. Reuters could not independently verify the information. "The two parties appreciate and thank China for its constructive role in safeguarding peace and stability in northern Myanmar," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular press conference. "Going forward, China will continue to push forward the Kunming peace talks." The MNDAA is part of the so-called Three Brotherhood Alliance, a collection of rebel armies that launched an offensive against the military in late October 2023, gaining control of wide areas on the border with China and pushing the junta on the back foot. The MNDAA-junta agreement is separate from a broader ceasefire that the 10-member Southeast Asian regional bloc ASEAN has been pushing for to allow delivery of more humanitarian aid into Myanmar, which was ravaged by a quake last month that has killed over 3,700 people.
Chicago Tribune
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Rescue efforts from Myanmar's deadly earthquake wind down as death toll exceeds 3,500
BANGKOK — Long-shot efforts to find survivors from Myanmar's devastating March 28 earthquake were winding down Monday, as rescue efforts were supplanted by increasing relief and recovery activity, with the death toll from the disaster surpassing 3,500 and still climbing. In the capital, Naypyitaw, people cleared debris and collected wood from their damaged houses under drizzling rain, and soldiers removed wreckage at some Buddhist monasteries. Myanmar Fire Services Department said Monday that rescue teams had recovered 10 bodies from the rubble of a collapsed building in Mandalay, Myanmar's second biggest city. It said international rescuers from Singapore, Malaysia and India had returned to their countries after their work to find survivors was considered completed. The number of rescue teams operating in the residential areas of Naypyitaw has been steadily decreasing. The 7.7 magnitude quake hit a wide swath of the country, causing significant damage to six regions and states. The earthquake left many areas without power, telephone or cell connections and damaged roads and bridges, making the full extent of the devastation hard to assess. Heavy rains and winds disrupted rescue and relief operations on Saturday night and added to the misery of the homeless forced to sleep in the open. The weather forecast for this week said scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible across the country. Myanmar's military government and its battlefield opponents, meanwhile, have been trading accusations over alleged violations of ceasefire declarations each had declared to ease earthquake relief efforts. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the army's 2021 takeover ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, which led to nationwide peaceful protests that escalated into armed resistance and what now amounts to civil war. Although the military government and its armed opponents declared unilateral ceasefires for a temporary period, reports of continued fighting are widespread, with the army coming in for special attention for continuing aerial bombing, according to independent Myanmar media and eyewitnesses. Independent confirmation of fighting is difficult because of the remoteness of the areas in which much of it takes place and restrictions on journalists. The Three Brotherhood Alliance, a trio of powerful ethnic minority guerrilla armies, declared a unilateral temporary ceasefire on April 1, following an earlier declaration by the opposition National Unity Government, or NUG. The NUG, which leads the pro-democracy resistance, said its armed wing, the People's Defense Force, would cease offensive actions for two weeks. On Wednesday night, the army announced a similar unilateral ceasefire, as did another ethnic minority group among its foes, the Kachin Independence Organization. All sides reserved the right to act in self-defense. The Ta'ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, a member of the powerful Three Brotherhood Alliance, charged in a Sunday statement on the Telegram messaging platform that the military conducted airstrikes, including dropping toxic gas bombs, on villages the guerrilla group occupied last year in the northern part of Shan state. Another member of the alliance, the Arakan Army, fighting in the western state of Rakhine, said Saturday night that the military continued to launch daily counterattacks, aerial bombardments, shelling and naval attacks against its troops in two townships in Rakhine state, as well as in Ayeyarwady and Bago regions. The group said it occupied a military base it had besieged on a strategic hill in Bago a day after declaring its ceasefire, but honored its terms by failing to attack the army's retreating soldiers. The shadow National Unity Government on Saturday accused the military of carrying out 63 airstrikes and artillery attacks since the earthquake, resulting in the deaths of 68 civilians, including one child and 15 women. However, Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, a spokesperson for the military government, said in an audio message to journalists on Saturday night that the groups in the Three Brotherhood Alliance and the Kachin Independence Army, as well as the Karen National Union in southeastern Myanmar and pro-democracy forces in the central Magway region and other groups violated the ceasefires by attacking the army. 'We are carrying out relief and assistance efforts for the people affected by the earthquake. I am saying this to make everyone aware of the ceasefire violations at a time like this,' Zaw Min Tun said.
Asharq Al-Awsat
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Rescue Efforts from Myanmar's Deadly Earthquake Wind Down as Death Toll Exceeds 3,500
Long-shot efforts to find survivors from Myanmar's devastating March 28 earthquake were winding down Monday, as rescue efforts were supplanted by increasing relief and recovery activity, with the death toll from the disaster surpassing 3,500 and still climbing. In the capital, Naypyitaw, people cleared debris and collected wood from their damaged houses under drizzling rain, and soldiers removed wreckage at some Buddhist monasteries, The Associated Press said. Myanmar Fire Services Department said Monday that rescue teams had recovered 10 bodies from the rubble of a collapsed building in Mandalay, Myanmar's second biggest city. It said international rescuers from Singapore, Malaysia and India had returned to their countries after their work to find survivors was considered completed. The number of rescue teams operating in the residential areas of Naypyitaw has been steadily decreasing. The 7.7 magnitude quake hit a wide swath of the country, causing significant damage to six regions and states. The earthquake left many areas without power, telephone or cell connections and damaged roads and bridges, making the full extent of the devastation hard to assess. Heavy rains and winds disrupted rescue and relief operations on Saturday night and added to the misery of the homeless forced to sleep in the open. The weather forecast for this week said scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible across the country. Myanmar's military government and its battlefield opponents, meanwhile, have been trading accusations over alleged violations of ceasefire declarations each had declared to ease earthquake relief efforts. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the army's 2021 takeover ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, which led to nationwide peaceful protests that escalated into armed resistance and what now amounts to civil war. Although the military government and its armed opponents declared unilateral ceasefires for a temporary period, reports of continued fighting are widespread, with the army coming in for special attention for continuing aerial bombing, according to independent Myanmar media and eyewitnesses. Independent confirmation of fighting is difficult because of the remoteness of the areas in which much of it takes place and restrictions on journalists. The Three Brotherhood Alliance, a trio of powerful ethnic minority guerrilla armies, declared a unilateral temporary ceasefire on April 1, following an earlier declaration by the opposition National Unity Government, or NUG. The NUG, which leads the pro-democracy resistance, said its armed wing, the People's Defense Force, would cease offensive actions for two weeks. On Wednesday night, the army announced a similar unilateral ceasefire, as did another ethnic minority group among its foes, the Kachin Independence Organization. All sides reserved the right to act in self-defense. The Ta'ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, a member of the powerful Three Brotherhood Alliance, charged in a Sunday statement on the Telegram messaging platform that the military conducted airstrikes, including dropping toxic gas bombs, on villages the guerrilla group occupied last year in the northern part of Shan state. Another member of the alliance, the Arakan Army, fighting in the western state of Rakhine, said Saturday night that the military continued to launch daily counterattacks, aerial bombardments, shelling and naval attacks against its troops in two townships in Rakhine state, as well as in Ayeyarwady and Bago regions. The group said it occupied a military base it had besieged on a strategic hill in Bago a day after declaring its ceasefire, but honored its terms by failing to attack the army's retreating soldiers. The shadow National Unity Government on Saturday accused the military of carrying out 63 airstrikes and artillery attacks since the earthquake, resulting in the deaths of 68 civilians, including one child and 15 women. However, Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, a spokesperson for the military government, said in an audio message to journalists on Saturday night that the groups in the Three Brotherhood Alliance and the Kachin Independence Army, as well as the Karen National Union in southeastern Myanmar and pro-democracy forces in the central Magway region and other groups violated the ceasefires by attacking the army. 'We are carrying out relief and assistance efforts for the people affected by the earthquake. I am saying this to make everyone aware of the ceasefire violations at a time like this,' Zaw Min Tun said.
