Thread by @EdithMirante

1. This History Thread is about women of Burma (Myanmar) as soldiers & in other military roles. Women soldiers have often been providers of medical care. Current struggle vs coup regime is inclusive of female, transgender, nonbinary participants. #WhatsHappeningInBurma

2. Ancient & early modern Asia had women warriors & military leaders. Queen Chamadevi was Mon military leader of Hariphunchai (n. Thailand.) Women in lands that wd become Burma were politically powerful/influential. Legendary Queen Panhtwar of Pyu still inspires anti-coup women.

3. Gender roles varied by time, place, ethnicity in lands that wd become Burma. In his 1827 account of 1st Anglo-Burmese War, Maj. J. Snodgrass described 3 Shan “fearless Amazons” (believed to have supernatural ammunition-repelling powers) riding into battle vs British artillery.

4. WW2 Allied military nurses included those of Karen & other ethnicities saving lives with “Burma surgeon” Dr. Gordon Seagrave. Women of Chin State were intelligence operatives for Allies & carried supplies. Burma National Army included antifascist women’s unit in 1945.

5. In WW2 Communist women were antifascist resistance organizers in Burma. After 1949 as Communists fought the new govt of Burma, some women comrades (yebawma) served as soldiers. Wives of leaders of Communist factions had military roles but the parties were very male-dominated.

6. 1950s-60s warlord Olive Yang of Kokang commanded an opium tax & trade army in Burma’s Shan State. Forged trade routes to Thailand & arms supply from CIA (as anti-Communist.) New biography @TheOpiumQueen presents political/genderqueer context. irrawaddy.com/culture/books/…

7. In 1960s Mahadevi Sao Hearn Hkam worked to unite Shan armed groups, founding Shan State Army & led Shan State War Council. Since 1970s Shan armed forces incl. SSA, SURA, TRC, SSA-N, RCSS have included women soldiers in support & sometimes combat roles.

8. My friend Louisa Benson (Craig), Karen-Jewish actress & former Miss Burma, joined Karen National Liberation Army in 1964. She led KNLA 5th Brigade 1965-67. During her later years in US she was very influential activist for Burma (Myanmar) human rights: lithub.com/my-mysterious-…

9. Maj. Mary Ohn served in 13th Bn. of Karen National Liberation Army 1970s-80s. 1984-2007 was organizer/administrator of refugee camps in Thailand & women’s rights activist. Daw Nan fought in Maj. Mary’s KNLA women’s unit & carried out daring missions: burmalink.org/burmese-milita…

10. Over decades of armed struggle for ethnic rights vs Burma (Myanmar) military regimes, few women in top leadership. Exception: Naw Zipporah Sein, Gen. Sec. of Karen National Union 2008-12, Vice Pres. 2012-17. Women’s participation in negotiations only after pressure campaigns.

11. In 1988 I marched with Mon Liberation Army (New Mon State Party) female combat troops from Thailand border to Burma’s Andaman Seacoast & back (account in my book “Burmese Looking Glass.”) “I was angry, and I wanted to kill them,” Mi Chon De told me of her battle experience.

12. Kachin women in military since WW2 when disguised as men to join Allied forces. Kachin Independence Army’s women soldiers have served mainly in support roles (administration, medical, communications, guards.) I interviewed KIA women soldiers in 1991: projectmaje.org/pdf/kachin_w.p…

13. Women were important participants in 1988 student-led uprising. After its brutal suppression, est. 200+ women went to frontier areas to join All Burma Students Democratic Front. Some of them became founders of Burmese Women’s Union, a civil society group.

14. Women served (non-combat) in Arakan Liberation Army in Rakhine St. The more recently formed (2009) Arakan Army has notably emphasized recruitment of women soldiers. thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2…

15. As ethnic forces fought Burma (Myanmar) regimes for decades, many of their women soldiers have served in medical roles: nurses, doctors, frontline medics. As well as treating battle casualties they provide crucial healthcare for civilians (clinics, hospitals, backpack medics)

16. Serving in medical capacity in ethnic forces of Myanmar can be extremely dangerous. In 2018, 6 female medics of Ta’ang National Liberation Army were killed after being captured by Tatmadaw 88th Light Infantry Division in Shan State. frontiermyanmar.net/en/conflict-co…

17. Armed forces of Burma (Myanmar) military regimes included few women & are infamous perpetrators of gender-based violence. 2013 those armed forces announced recruiting of women. Since 2021 coup, regime forces wives of soldiers to take military training. irrawaddy.com/news/burma/mya…

18. Women began protests & Civil Disobedience Movement after Feb. 2021 Myanmar coup. Women were killed for demonstrating. Many women then joined armed resistance People’s Defense Forces as medics, snipers, saboteurs. PDF women medics captured in Kalay ’22. irrawaddy.com/news/war-again…

19. An all women PDF, Myaung Women Guerrilla Group formed in Sagaing Region 2021, specializing in Improvised Explosive Devices. Also in Sagaing, TGR Women Drone Force formed '22, effectively deploys weaponized drones vs coup regime’s convoys & assets. facebook.com/tgrwomendronef…

20. As weapons are increasingly captured from coup regime forces, police posts etc. & are manufactured by the resistance, more women throughout Myanmar are able to take up arms for village self-defense if they choose to.

21. With Karenni (Kayah) State at forefront of armed struggle against Myanmar coup regime, Karenni Nationalities Defence Force formed Battalion 5 Women’s Unit in 2021. Women’s rights groups of Karenni (Kayah) St. organize & support the resistance movement. rfa.org/english/multim…

22. Revolutionary forces of Chin State fighting Myanmar coup regime include women soldiers serving in medical, admin. & other roles. Martial arts champion Olivia Thawng Luai is a high ranking self defense & security trainer. thenewhumanitarian.org/first-person/2…

23. Rest in Power: Baik Rem Chin (Kalay PDF), Mai Lal Nun Puii (Mt Eagles), Naw Eh Moo & Naw Lu Lu Phaw (KNLA Cobras), Mai Ngun Hlei Par & Mai Sui Len Par (CNF), Su Su Yi & Hnin Si Hlaing (Kawlin PDF), Su Mon Htet (UG Lightning), Ma Cho (YSO PDF), Khin Thandar Swe (KNLA Tigers)🌹

24/24. Sources incl.: N’Chyaw Tang 1980, ALTSEAN ’98; Belak 2002; Harriden ’12; @JaneMFerguson ’13; @tharaphithan ’13; Aye Aye Mon ’19; @HedstromJenny ’16, ’17, ’20; @meemalee 4/’21 Thread; @maggiquadrini + Anon. ’23. My previous Burma History Threads at: projectmaje.org