From war to governance in resistance-liberated areas of Myanmar

This article first appeared on Pacific Forum and is republished with kind permission. Read the original here.

Myanmar’s ongoing armed struggle against the military junta, or State Administration Council (SAC), has seen significant territorial gains by ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and People’s Defense Forces (PDFs). These newly emerging territories “liberated” by resistance forces underscore the regime’s weakening position in governance.

The October recapture of the key Pinlebu township in Sagaing Region by joint forces of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and PDFs, following two months of fighting, along with the Arakan Army (AA)’s seizure of a strategic junta hilltop base in Mae Taung near the Western Military Command headquarters in Ann Township of Rakhine State, offers renewed hope to those resisting military rule.

However, these unprecedented military achievements and territorial gains bring new challenges to the resistance groups regarding how these newly liberated areas will be governed and how new governance systems can be established amid challenges of diversity, inclusivity and inexperience.

New opportunities and challenges

While Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement celebrates the liberation of territories from junta control, establishing functional governments in these liberated areas is important for maintaining stability and legitimizing the broader resistance movement. For many EAOs and PDFs, setting up governance structures is a new and complex task.

In Chin State, members of the Chin National Front and Chinland Defense Forces lead the formation of local governments using a “bottom-up approach” reflecting tribal practices, involving tribal elders in the decision-making process at the township,