Exposing the hidden horrors on Myanmar’s battlefields I Al Jazeera Investigations

Key Concepts:

• Civil War: The ongoing conflict in Myanmar since the 2021 military coup.
• Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs): Long-standing armed groups representing various ethnic minorities in Myanmar.
• People's Defence Forces (PDFs): Civilian resistance groups formed after the coup.
• National Unity Government (NUG): The government-in-exile formed by ousted lawmakers and activists.
• Military Junta: The ruling military council in Myanmar.
• Human Rights Abuses: Widespread atrocities committed by the military.
• Conscription Law: The recent law mandating military service for all eligible citizens.
• Torture and Interrogation: Methods used by the military to extract information.
• War Crimes: Violations of international humanitarian law.
• Transitional Justice: Mechanisms for addressing past abuses and promoting reconciliation.

Summary:

This documentary provides an in-depth look at the ongoing civil war in Myanmar, detailing the brutal realities of the conflict, the human cost, and the complex dynamics of the resistance. Since the 2021 military coup, a coalition of ethnic armed organizations and civilian resistance groups has been fighting against the military junta for democracy. The documentary highlights the increasing scale of inhumane and violent acts across the country, presenting never-before-seen footage and testimonies from those with inside knowledge of the military's operations. Al Jazeera's investigation reveals what is truly happening on the ground and the aftermath of the battles.

The War Against the Military Regime

The film opens with a depiction of a planned raid on a military base in a dense forest in southeastern Myanmar. The young fighters, many of whom were civilians before the conflict, are allied with the National Unity Government (NUG), led by figures who fled the country after the coup. One fighter emphasizes the critical nature of this battle, stating, "This is the last battle for our country's liberation. If we lose this fight, we lose forever." The targeted military camp controls a vital stretch of the Bago River, and the operation, recorded by helmet-mounted cameras, aims to disrupt a crucial military supply route.

Inside the Battle

Intelligence suggests the base is understaffed, with many soldiers deployed to northern conflicts. Despite this, the resistance forces approach with caution. Within three hours of the assault, several buildings inside the camp are captured. However, the resistance fighters soon face fierce resistance from the remaining soldiers. They attempt to coax soldiers out, urging them not to die for their generals. Tragically, a fighter named Lightning is killed by a bullet, becoming one of the estimated 50,000 casualties nationwide. Daw Ni, who was documenting the battle, also falls, among twenty resistance fighters killed that day. Despite heavy losses, the resistance manages to capture only a few low-ranking soldiers, one of whom is seen being interrogated. The fighters manage to retrieve much-needed weapons from the commander's house. Four days after capturing the base, the resistance is forced to withdraw due to relentless military airstrikes.

Widespread Conflict and Resistance

The documentary then broadens its scope to show battles occurring across the country. Resistance groups are actively engaging the military, with the potential for specialized battalions to emerge. Currently, these groups are coordinating their efforts to capture military bases, towns, and strategic locations. The country, with a population of 57 million, is on the brink of fragmentation. In 2023, joint operations led by local resistance groups liberated significant areas in Kayah State, Myanmar's smallest state. Lazarus John, an officer in the Karenni People's Liberation Front (KPLF), oversees areas controlled by the resistance. The KPLF, with over 2,000 full-time members, is largely composed of young people.

The Karenni Struggle for Independence

The narrative shifts to the historical context of the Karenni people's struggle. After Myanmar gained independence from British colonial rule in 1948, ethnic regions like Karenni faced further oppression under military dictatorships for nearly 49 years. The fighters in the documentary are engaged in a liberation struggle that often goes unnoticed by international media. They began as guerrilla forces, fighting for greater autonomy in their remote regions, facing conflict not only with the military government but also with other groups over territory. While other ethnic armed organizations continued to fight the military, the KPLF signed a ceasefire agreement. The KPLF even served as a border guard force for the Myanmar military during the democratic transition period until the coup. Two years after the coup, the KPLF officially withdrew from the military and joined the resistance forces. In retaliation, the Myanmar military launched attacks into Karenni territories, with airstrikes and drone attacks raining down weapons on schools, religious sites, and villages controlled by the resistance. The KPLF headquarters was recently targeted in an airstrike. The conflict has displaced over three million civilians nationwide.

Rebuilding and Governance

In an effort to establish stability, resistance groups are rapidly implementing reconstruction efforts and decentralized governance. This includes establishing schools, healthcare facilities, and police forces, a model seen in many states across the country. In places like Karenni, this system is proving effective, with an independent judiciary handling cases ranging from drug offenses to murder, including crimes committed by resistance fighters. The military's brutal crackdown following the coup is identified as a primary catalyst for the widespread conflict, igniting popular uprisings and strengthening long-standing ethnic rebellions. Ethnic armed revolutionary forces are considered the backbone of the revolution, with their battle-hardened troops now joining forces with democratic movements to reclaim towns, villages, and territories from the military.

Military Tactics and Weaknesses

Major Tun Kyaw, who joined an ethnic armed group at 16, now leads the KPLF and emphasizes the importance of combat experience, especially for new civilian recruits. With all major cities under military control, resistance fighters are training for urban warfare. However, capturing cities and winning the war requires more logistical support, funding, and experience. Resistance fighters must evade airstrikes and bullets, and Myanmar has a higher rate of landmine casualties than anywhere else in the world. A young resistance fighter, "The Younger," learned this lesson firsthand when he stepped on a landmine near a military camp, losing his leg below the knee. Despite this, the resolve of those who survive such injuries remains unbroken, with The Younger preparing to return to the front lines.

Defections and Internal Strife

Another former soldier, who served four years in the military starting at age 17, defected in 2022. Many defectors join resistance groups, sharing tactics and battlefield knowledge. Approximately 15,000 individuals have defected from the Myanmar military and other organizations, a significant number given the severe penalties, including imprisonment or death, for desertion. This exodus is seen as the military being hollowed out from within. These individuals have witnessed human rights abuses firsthand. Al Jazeera has met with defectors from various branches of the military who have provided clear testimony. They were once loyal to the military regime but have lost faith due to corruption and a lack of humanity. A former infantry soldier reveals the realities on the front lines.

International Support and Military Reliance

Since the 2021 coup, Western countries like the US and UK, along with the European Union, have provided aid to the resistance, primarily through humanitarian channels and targeted sanctions against individuals. However, the Myanmar military, with full economic control and support from China and Russia, possesses a significantly larger force than the resistance. Despite these advantages, defectors report that the military's infantry and ground units are not adequately equipped. The military has become heavily reliant on airstrikes to counter resistance offensives and regain territory. A former air force technician with knowledge of anti-aircraft weapons highlights these vulnerabilities. Myanmar is struggling to procure weapons from allied nations, with China pressuring for large orders and Russia preoccupied with the war in Ukraine. Consequently, the air force relies on makeshift bombs and missiles produced domestically, which often lack the quality required for fighter jets. Footage from February 2025 shows a 100-kilogram bomb that failed to detonate, indicating recent production and use. Other images provided to Al Jazeera reveal the air force using smaller bombs dropped from cargo planes, made with common household plastic pipes, weighing around four kilograms. These lack precision and are far from effective.

Military Control and Surveillance

Further leaked documents obtained by Al Jazeera reveal increased surveillance and control over soldiers after the coup. The military's desperate efforts to identify and arrest "melons" – officers disloyal to the regime – are evident. The primary reason for recent battlefield losses is attributed to informants within the ranks. Identifying and neutralizing individuals like "melons" is crucial to prevent the leakage of military intelligence. Interrogation files detail closed-door investigations of officers suspected of supporting democracy. Seized phones of detainees are examined, along with their social media accounts and bank transfers. The military's iron grip extends to the families of soldiers, who are confined to barracks rather than living in residential areas. Leaflets distributed by the military portray resistance fighters as terrorists. Leaked documents also include strict orders for soldiers to read only state-controlled media daily and avoid online news. Children are discouraged from engaging in politics, and encouraged to attend military-run schools. Newly discovered footage shows the military conducting new training sessions, forcing adult family members to undergo basic small arms training to serve as sentries and reserve forces at military bases.

The Conscription Crisis and Refugee Influx

Neighboring countries are experiencing a surge in refugees due to the conflict, exacerbated by the military government's enactment of the conscription law in early 2024. All citizens between the ages of 18 and 35 are now subject to mandatory military service. Many who flee to Thailand lack proper documentation, facing threats of detention and deportation by Thai authorities. This situation is a significant concern, creating a burden for neighboring countries. A 24-year-old woman, seeking refuge, fled Myanmar to avoid conscription. Seven men from her village were conscripted and sent to the front lines. The conscription law has led to the military forcibly recruiting individuals from the streets to meet quotas. In Sagaing Region, individuals working secretly with Al Jazeera documented the military's house-to-house searches for young men. Footage captured two men being forcibly taken for conscription. It is estimated that approximately 70% of the military's front-line forces are new recruits from the past year.

Forced Conscription and Its Consequences

Al Jazeera has investigated the experiences of a conscript, referred to as "Phyo Thar," who was forcibly recruited in late 2024. His summons letter threatened legal action for evading service, with a potential five-year prison sentence in Myanmar. The military, facing battlefield losses, is desperately seeking recruits, lacking experienced soldiers. Using his phone discreetly, Phyo Thar sent images from his assigned camp, where he underwent three months of basic military training. Soon after, he was deployed to one of Myanmar's most dangerous front lines, largely controlled by resistance fighters. He states that the military views its own citizens not as humans but as human shields. Conscripts are housed in makeshift bunkers constructed solely from bamboo. Phyo Thar sent images of meager rations and the use of stagnant, green water from a nearby pond. Those conscripted face a stark choice: flee or die in battle. Leaked military documents reveal the military's desperate attempts to deceive the public during recruitment drives, urging authorities to lie to the populace about not sending new recruits to the front lines. In response, people are barricading their doors or claiming that conscripts are not present. Recruiters face threats of violence, including death. In 2025, the Myanmar military leadership admitted to mismanagement in recruitment. State-controlled media, engaged in pro-military propaganda, were forced to acknowledge that conscription procedures were not followed. A farmer witnessed the forced conscription of his intellectually disabled relative, taken by two soldiers at gunpoint in early January 2025. The mother of the disabled boy attempted to intervene. The farmer prays his relative is not sent into battle, as he is easily targeted. His relative cannot distinguish banknotes and relies entirely on his mother.

Child Soldiers and International Law

Al Jazeera has other evidence of the military forcibly recruiting underage individuals and sending them to the front lines. Salman, a member of a minority ethnic refugee group, claims he was beaten and given two weeks of training before being sent to the front. He was apprehended while shopping, along with his cousin, by soldiers who surrounded and arrested them. People were herded onto trucks like cattle. Salman, then 17, and his 15-year-old cousin were arrested. His cousin was shot in the leg while attempting to flee the front lines. International law prohibits the use of child soldiers. Salman recounts, "They promised to give us weapons when they sent us to the front, but they gave us nothing, so we were very scared. Many died. I had never even seen blood before in my life, but eventually, I got used to facing this bloodshed."

Protests and Surveillance in Yangon

For residents within Myanmar, the dangers are immense, especially if they criticize the forced conscription and the military's wrongdoings. Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, saw a secret protest against the conscription law, filmed by Al Jazeera in late 2024. Shortly after this bold demonstration, two protesters were arrested and imprisoned. Fearing further protests, the military has increased checkpoints, surveillance posts, and bunkers in its controlled areas. Al Jazeera has obtained top-secret maps and documents detailing the expansion of CCTV networks and police posts across Yangon. One file advises soldiers to blend in with the population, further strengthening the Myanmar military's existing extensive intelligence network of spies and informants.

Interrogation Centers and Torture

Ye Htut Oo, who worked in the Police Intelligence Department from 2019 to 2024, states that the military's blacklist contains at least 300,000 individuals, most of whom have been arrested and sent to interrogation centers. These centers are located across Myanmar, hidden behind high walls. While the military may be weakened on the front lines, interrogation centers and prisons remain powerful tools for oppression. Anyone arrested faces brutal torture, not only in interrogation centers but also in military barracks and police stations. Al Jazeera has uncovered evidence of what is happening inside military barracks, with ordinary soldiers using lethal interrogation methods. Ko Lin, who served as a guard at an infantry regiment in Mandalay Region in October 2021, secretly filmed videos with his phone, revealing scenes never before seen by the public. He claims he sometimes had to participate in interrogations to avoid suspicion. While on guard duty, he was ordered to beat detainees and once beat a person. He filmed an incident where two individuals were tortured for over five hours, accused of sabotaging phone lines needed by resistance groups. Ko Lin states these individuals were beaten to death in front of the military intelligence office within the barracks, using ropes, batons, and iron rods. Fortify Rights, a human rights monitoring group, has corroborated Ko Lin's accounts, believing him to be a credible source. He made significant efforts to document the torture and injustices witnessed. The current situation offers no accountability for these individuals.

Medical Torture and War Crimes

Another defector, who served in a medical unit at a military hospital, claims that deaths due to torture within the military have increased since the coup. The commander of his unit was known for his inhumane treatment of detainees, including exposing them to the sun with their faces covered and pointing a gun at them while they were drunk. He managed to film the commander kicking a female detainee in the face. Such mistreatment of prisoners of war is illegal under international law. Soe Lin Maung, who participated in interrogations with other soldiers, managed to secretly record the voice of a girl being interrogated for allegedly assisting resistance groups. He claims his men threatened the girl to obtain her phone's password. These brutal acts led Soe Lin Maung to defect from the military.

Military's Response and Legal Proceedings

When questioned by Al Jazeera, a spokesperson for the Myanmar military did not directly answer questions about torture, surveillance, and interrogation centers. However, in a written response, they stated that the Myanmar Army adheres to the laws of war, including the Geneva Conventions, and strives to ensure security and stability. They further claimed that there are no displaced persons in areas where the army is present. The Myanmar government denies these claims, citing the excessive control and surveillance of soldiers and the military's inability to properly equip them. They also state that the law prohibits the conscription of disabled individuals and minors. In an interview with Al Jazeera English in May 2025, the Deputy Minister of Information addressed accusations of war crimes. While the war continues, the Myanmar military has begun prosecuting soldiers. In Karenni State, over fifty prisoners of war are held in a makeshift prison in the jungle. The inmates told Al Jazeera they receive medical care and phone calls, and are assigned daily tasks. Deputy Major Ye Min Htay, an inmate, states he is treated humanely but questions the justice system that convicted him. He was sentenced to ten years in prison in September 2024. As a high-ranking officer, he was denied legal representation and the right to defend himself. When Ye Min Htay's regiment surrendered last year, they were all charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law. The Deputy Major criticizes the judicial system as flawed. The court that sentenced the Deputy Major is presided over by the Chief Justice of Karenni State. He notes the scarcity of willing or courageous lawyers to represent captured soldiers. The judicial system of the resistance faces challenges such as lack of funding, personnel, and court security. He emphasizes that without transitional justice, lasting peace will not be achieved in their country, and a robust judicial system is needed to investigate ethical violations by resistance fighters.

Frontline Realities and Ethical Dilemmas

Footage from helmet cameras reveals the chaos on the front lines. In January 2025, Karenni resistance fighters documented an assault on a military camp in an abandoned pagoda. Joe Sae, who filmed this small arms battle, states that three resistance fighters were killed and four Myanmar soldiers died. He filmed a soldier surrendering, handing over his weapons to the resistance fighters, but he was not taken prisoner. The soldier then attempted to flee and was shot from behind by resistance fighters, sustaining serious injuries. As the wounded soldier crawled, Joe Sae fired several shots, killing him. Joe Sae claims he saw the soldier and his comrades plotting before surrendering, still armed and only sixty feet away. Immediately after this incident, the resistance fighters came under heavy fire from the enemy. While wounded, the fighters used grenades and RPGs to repel the enemy, struggling to survive. Joe Sae states he is prepared to defend his actions in any court, given the life-or-death situation. While such actions may be understandable in extreme front-line combat, international law protects wounded enemies, and summary executions can constitute war crimes.

Challenges in Accountability and Future Prospects

An estimated 2,600 armed groups, large and small, are engaged in conflict across Myanmar. Supervising young and inexperienced resistance fighters presents a challenge. The National Unity Government (NUG) claims that each resistance group has its own investigative mechanisms to address front-line violations, but most lack funding. "Ethical violations are becoming a bigger problem for us," states an NUG representative. "It's truly difficult to deal with, and our resources are limited. We need to think about accountability immediately. If we wait for the next two or three years, it will be too late." Major General Tun Kyaw emphasizes the need to avoid becoming like the military regime and stresses the importance of addressing the culture of impunity. Myanmar's long history is filled with dictatorships, wars, and despair. Daily battles are pushing Myanmar towards self-destruction. For a father like Lazarus, there is little more to risk, yet he still hopes for a better day, a day free from the shadow of guns.

Post-Filming Developments

Since this documentary was filmed, the military has recaptured some territory in Karenni and other regions. However, conflict analysts state that the Myanmar military's ability to regain nationwide control remains distant. This documentary was produced by Al Jazeera's Investigative Unit.