Revolutionary People’s War – The experience in Rojava and the current Revolution taking place in Myanmmar

"Dear comrades in Rojava,

We are saddened to hear about the recent air raids that targeted non-military objectives, including civilians and civil infrastructure in Rojava. We can relate to the difficulties, sacrifices, and bravery of our brothers and sisters in Rojava since we have endured the cruelty of a military dictatorship for more than 70 years.

In our country, the military junta commits similar terrorist acts. Local schools, hospitals, religious structures, refugee camps, villages, and cities are frequently targeted by Junta airstrikes and heavy artillery, in addition to Junta troops committing war crimes against our civilian population.

From one revolutionary movement to another that the international community has turned a blind eye to, we would like to say, "We see your struggles, we see your fight for liberation and justice." The absence of those who stand up against evil is more terrifying than evil itself.

We must continue to march together for the downfall of any tyrant. We stand in solidarity with all those revolutionary forces around the world that embrace racial, religious and gender diversity.

Together let us ensure that the administrative power over a country is in the hands of its people. May our political goals be achieved while laying a strong foundation for building a future federal democratic union with national equality, justice, and self-determination."

Karenni Nationalities Defence Force in Myanmar – 15/10/2023

In 2017 the well known Rohingya genocide was a series of ongoing persecutions and killings of the Muslim Rohingya people by the Burmese military. The genocide has consisted of two phases to date: the first was a military crackdown that occurred from October 2016 to January 2017, and the second has been occurring since August 2017. The crisis forced over a million Rohingya to flee to other countries. Most fled to Bangladesh, resulting in the creation of the world’s largest refugee camp. In August 2018, a study estimated that more than 24,000 Rohingya people were killed by the Burmese military and local Buddhists since the “clearance operations” which had started on 25 August 2017.

Burma’s history is also marked by a strong presence of military coups and counter-revolutions. The formation of the state and its nationalist character forced ethnic minority groups to organize and form national liberation movements.

The People’s Defence Forces is the armed wing of the National Unity Government (NUG), a body of democratically-elected legislators and officials that is widely accepted by the civilian population to be the legitimate government of Myanmar. The armed wing was formed by the National Unity Government with Myanmar youths and pro-democracy activists on 5 May 2021 in response to the coup d’état. Despite having a large amount of support from the people of Myanmar, the military junta designated it as a terrorist organization on 8 May 2021.

Besides the similarity between being minority peoples attacked and exposed to the genocidal policies of the nation-state, the Kurdish people and the people of Burma are fighting on the front lines not only for a free life in which their rights and guarantees are protected. But also for a reality that is in accordance with human ethics and morality, where the plurality, multiculturalism, and the different beliefs of the peoples of the territory are respected.

Most importantly, such revolutionary processes have as their main agent the people themselves, organized in communes, communities, centers, autonomous organizations. In both places the driving force of the struggle is the youth and their hope in building another world. Both experiences have their process ignored by the international media, since they take place in the South-Eastern world. More than ever, it is necessary to bring out such struggle and resistance and show support beyond solidarity.