Group

• More than two years on from a coup that installed military rule in the Southeast Asian country, pro-democracy protesters say they have yet to receive an adequate answer.
• The day before the Sagaing massacre, the Myanmar air force dropped bombs in Falam, Chin State, killing 11 people.
• In response, a fierce resistance movement has emerged, with an estimated 65,000 fighters using ambushes and other guerrilla tactics against military targets.

From coup to civil war

• The coup ended the short period of democratic rule under Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy.
• In 2014, generals in Thailand launched a coup ending months of political instability and promising a process back to democratic rule.
• The Myanmar military similarly promised “free and fair elections” further down the line after its coup.
• After peaceful protests following the coup were met with live ammunition, pro-democracy activists turned to armed resistance.

Uniting around a common enemy

• Despite slow initial progress to show a common front, the Bamar majority and minority ethic groups such as Karen, Chin, Kachin, Rakhine and Karenni appear to be unifying against military rule.
• The military is reportedly facing an acute shortage of new recruits, resulting in women being trained to fight in combat.
• People in the Bamar heartlands, including Sagaing where the April 11 massacre occurred, are refusing to let their sons join the Myanmar army.

Leaving the oil and gas taps running

• Both the U.S. and the United Nations have made statements in support of democracy in Myanmar, and condemned killings.
• Activist group Justice for Myanmar has identified 22 oil and gas companies from countries including the U.S. that have continued to provide revenue to Myanmar’s generals during the civil war.
• Indeed, U.S. oil companies including Chevron lobbied hard against broad sanctions against the Myanmar military.
• The failure to shut off oil revenue allows Myanmar’s generals – for whom oil and gas is a major revenue source – to fund the military.

Beware the tiger’s tail

A well-known Myanmar phrase warns against the dangers of “catching hold of a tiger’s tail” – once you do so there is no turning back; let go and you will be killed. It aptly sums up the position now for Myanmar’s military rulers and the resistance fighters being drawn deeper into conflict with each atrocity. They are fighting for the past, present and the future and can’t let go now.