Inside Myanmar’s five-year armed resistance – a photo essay

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 5 min read 100% complete by Robin TutengesFebruary 1, 2026 at 08:00 AM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

In Myanmar's Tanintharyi region, a five-year armed resistance, fueled by the 2021 military coup, continues to challenge the junta's authority. The region, already home to Karen ethnic minority rebels, saw a surge in resistance fighters after the coup ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's government and peaceful protests were suppressed. Young people from diverse backgrounds joined local pro-democracy battalions, driven by anger over the junta's violence. The People's Defence Force (PDF) now controls nearly half of Tanintharyi, including rural areas and key waterways. The resistance aims to restore democracy through armed struggle in the face of ongoing conflict and military actions.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Andaman Sea 35% Myeik 40% Thailand 40% Aung San Suu Kyi 60% Tatmadaw 70% Karen National Union (KNU) 75% People’s Defence Force (PDF) ×280% Myanmar ×490% Tanintharyi Region ×795%

Keywords

myanmar 100% armed resistance 90% tanintharyi region 80% military junta 70% guerrilla warfare 60% democracy 50% people’s defence force 50% karen national union 40% civilian government 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.30

Source Transparency

Source

The Guardian - World News

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.40)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Tanintharyi Region

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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myanmar armed resistance tanintharyi region military junta guerrilla warfare democracy people’s defence force karen national union civilian government

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