We have replaced all names in this article with pseudonyms to protect the security of our sources
Not far behind the front lines on one of Myanmar’s many war fronts, detachments of women in combat fatigues stand alert and ready to carry out the important tasks assigned to them when commanded.
Each of them has a different function, but they all share the same basic responsibility: to provide their comrades with the help and support that will enable them to win on the battlefield.
Sandar was one of the first recruits to complete basic military training in late 2021 and is now taking on administrative duties as part of the Mandalay People’s Defence Force (MDY-PDF), a group of anti-junta resistance fighters under the command of the publicly mandated National Unity Government.
As armed resistance against the military junta gains ground, more women everywhere are taking on roles in independent resistance units. . .
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