Myanmar Spring Chronicle – September 1 Highlights
(MoeMaKa, September 2, 2025)
The Right Path and Unity Are the Keys to Victory
In recent days and weeks, those resisting the military dictatorship and the coup regime are facing harsh battlefield realities—fighting stubbornly on some fronts, forced withdrawals on others—and also grappling with discouragement, internal rifts, and the sense that victory is receding. Friction among armed resistance groups, clashes of interest that leaders cannot resolve, shifting policies of neighboring countries toward Myanmar, and their attitudes toward the junta’s planned “elections” are all shaping the current moment.
One political story on September 1: Ko Sithu Maung, an NLD youth member and CRPH representative who serves within the NUCC (National Unity Consultative Council), said via Facebook and media interviews that the NLD Central Working Committee (CWC) decided to suspend his party membership, and notified him accordingly.
In August, Ko Sithu Maung posted a four-part series on Facebook criticizing how the NLD CWC operates. Citing those posts, the CWC reportedly decided at a recent regular party meeting to temporarily suspend his membership and to inform him that he may appeal at the next national-level party congress.
Although his posts began in early August—raising issues such as weaknesses in the CWC and leadership exercised from abroad—most media did not cover them at the time. Only after the CWC meeting’s decision emerged did outlets begin reporting the story. One could argue this is merely an internal NLD matter—but it has implications for the Spring Revolution, given who leads it and who supports it.
Many of those occupying key leadership roles in the Spring Revolution are 2020-elected NLD MPs and CWC members. Thus, even an internal dispute risks disheartening pro-NLD segments of the public. Some blame Ko Sithu Maung for airing issues publicly; others say the party lacks the internal capacity to resolve problems, so they spill into public view. Such disputes are not unusual in politics—but airing them at a critical time for the revolution can have consequences.
Beyond this NLD episode, other disheartening developments relate to military news from northern Shan, Karenni (Kayah), and Upper Myanmar. After rapid territorial gains starting early last year, momentum stalled in early 2025, and by midyear some areas were lost again. That may be the ebb and flow of war, but contributing factors could include weaker joint operations, ammunition shortages, and emerging conflicts of interest among resistance groups over administration of captured areas.
The resistance forces need to re-evaluate these trends—yet there appears to be no ready mediator or mechanism to step in. Can the NUG play that role? In the north, could the FPNCC? Meanwhile, the junta speaks with one voice, trying every possible method to claw back from its losses. Recall that at the outset of Operation 1027, ultra-nationalist groups rallied at the Chinese Embassy with tacit approval while others were barred from protesting; after China’s policy shift, such protests vanished, suggesting interests override principles on the junta’s side.
As global alignments shift—and with a Trump presidency in the United States—the junta chief is trying to capitalize on opportunities. Geopolitically, Russia, China, and India are drawing closer economically and diplomatically; the junta views this as an opening to secure arms, ammunition, and technology, even if formal international recognition remains limited.
Taking all this together, the junta seems to be edging back from a state of near-collapse, gaining some ground in its push to recover from consecutive defeats. For the resistance, this is a moment to analyze soberly, without wishful thinking, and to fix weaknesses quickly.
If we use a football analogy: when your starters are exhausted and off-form, you must substitute wisely, field those who fit the game plan, rebuild team spirit and coordination, and adopt a winning strategy suitable to the current scoreline. From playing for an easy lead, the match has shifted toward protecting goal difference. Only by reassessing weaknesses before full time can the team still turn the game around.
Bottom line: the revolution’s success hinges on choosing the right course and holding unity together.