“Unbowed” Analysis of Reactions to Nonviolent Public Protests Against Revolutionary Forces
Introduction & Background
The Myanmar military has repeatedly suppressed and restricted freedom of opinion and expression, the most fundamental human right, using various means. Following the 2021 Coup, the regime responded to nonviolent public protests against the coup solely with violence.
The Spring Revolution in Myanmar began as a peaceful, nonviolent movement. It was forced to become an armed resistance, as the military regime violently cracked down on protests. The crackdown used lethal force, mass arbitrary arrests, and torture. As the revolution’s landscape shifted, People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) and local defense forces emerged across the country. Over the past five years, Ethnic Revolutionary Organizations (EROs) and new resistance groups have gained control of some territories. Currently, they control about 90 townships. 1 The organizations leading the revolution aim to resist the regime’s human rights violations and oppression, and seek to establish a federal democratic union grounded in freedom and justice.
However, as resistance forces gained greater territorial control and began assuming administrative roles, they began establishing systems of governance and territorial management. In implementing these administrative mechanisms, it became necessary to ensure the protection of the rights of the governed population, as well as the responsibility and accountability of local authorities.
In practice, these requirements have not been fully met. According to independent monitoring reports, restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly have been observed in controlled territories, along with cases of arrests.
Following the 2021 military coup, various organizations have continuously monitored and documented human rights violations and grave abuses committed by the military regime. However, there has been little systematic analysis of human rights restrictions imposed by resistance forces, particularly on freedom of expression and assembly. In pursuing a free and just federal democratic union, it is necessary not only to resist the military regime but also to critically examine the restrictions imposed by revolutionary forces, including their patterns, underlying causes, and impacts.
That is why this research report aims to systematically study the practical restrictions of revolutionary forces against the freedom of expression and assembly in their controlled areas. Moreover, causes and impacts of those restrictions will be exposed through the observations. Findings of this study support revolutionary organizations to amend their governance policies and enhance the protection of human rights standards in their regions.
This research report, therefore, aims to systematically examine the restrictions imposed by revolutionary forces on freedom of expression and assembly in areas under their control. It also seeks to analyze the patterns of these restrictions, their underlying causes, and their impacts. The findings of this study are intended to support revolutionary organizations in revising their governance policies and strengthening the protection of human rights in their areas.
Findings
According to data collected by Athan, there were 49 instances of public movements targeting revolutionary forces between February 2021 and February 2026. Of these, 47 were protests, while the remaining 2 were campaigns mobilizing public participation in protests.
By region, Sagaing Region recorded the highest number of cases, with 32 instances of public movements. Sagaing is not only geographically large but also one of the areas where revolutionary forces are most active. It hosts a wide range of groups, including People’s Defense Forces under the National Unity Government (NUG), public security units, Local People’s Defense Forces (LPDFs), and other organizations. The administrative mechanisms of these forces are not unified under a single centralized command but are instead fragmented. As a result, conflicts have arisen among different groups over authority and territorial control, as well as inconsistencies in taxation and judicial standards. These conditions have contributed to tensions between the public and governing authorities.
As Sagaing region is a revolutionary forces controlled territory, local protest committees organized campaigns to involve more in nonviolence movements.
As Sagaing Region is a stronghold of revolutionary forces and a territory under their control, local protest committees have been able to mobilize greater public participation in nonviolent movements. As a result, the public has developed a stronger understanding of their rights and has increasingly taken part in public movements. In addition to the military’s inhumane repression, when people face authoritarian practices by revolutionary groups, such as arbitrary arrests and threats, they do not remain silent but instead express opposition and engage in public movements.
Shan state has the second highest number of public protests against the revolutionary forces, and it
has four times. Magway region has five times, and Kachin State and Mandalay region has three times respectively. Protests in Sagaing region are based on governance and taxation, while Kachin State and
Shan State have protests for mining and land disputes.
Shan State recorded the second-highest number of protests against revolutionary forces, with
5 instances. Magway Region recorded 4 instances, while Kachin State and Mandalay Region each recorded 3 instances. While protests in Sagaing Region were largely driven by issues related to governance and taxation, those in Kachin and Shan States were more closely linked to disputes over natural resource extraction and land ownership.
3.1 Reasons for the Protests
This study identifies five main reasons why people engage in protests:
a. Protests related to natural resource extraction and environmental harm
b. Grievances related to governance and taxation
c. Issues concerning the judiciary and human rights violations
d. Opposition to recruitment and arbitrary arrests
e. Movements opposing revolutionary forces