Update: Resistance in Myanmar

I’ve received several encouraging messages from Simon Billeness over the past two weeks on the progress of the civil defense forces in Myanmar:

“This past week, we’ve seen the Myanmar military lose significant ground all across Burma. The Northern Alliance Brotherhood of ethnic armed organizations has secured large swathes of territory across northern Shan State and effectively blocked the junta’s access to the border with China. In the southwest, the Arakan Army has made new gains in Rakhine State. Beleaguered on many fronts, the Myanmar military is being forced to retreat.

We are receiving news reports of Myanmar military troops surrendering or just abandoning the fight. It appears that many junta troops no longer have the will to fight because of the absence of public support, increasing defeats, and the lack of reinforcements. 

The challenge for us is to use the opportunity to end military rule in Burma for once and for all. For that we need to lobby our Members of Congress to help cut the junta’s sources of money and weapons while supporting Burmese civil society and pro-democracy movements.”

This week, urge your Members of Congress to co-sponsor S.Res.20 calling on the Administration to take tougher action against the Myanmar military.