Part 4/10:
Resistance was swift following the coup, with citizens protesting for democracy. However, the brutal reaction from the military, including shootings and executions, only intensified the uprising. Protesters fled to rural areas and aligned with ethnic militias that had long histories of resistance against the Tatmadaw, forming a new military coalition known as the People’s Defense Force.
By mid-2021, the conflict had transformed into a full-scale rebellion, with the Tatmadaw conceding ground to the increasingly organized resistance. Ethnic militias and newly formed groups coordinated their efforts, resulting in greater military competencies and effectiveness in combat.