ASIA PACIFIC

In the war against the junta in Myanmar, a poet commands a rebel army

Ko Maung Saungkha, center, a poet who is a rebel commander in Myanmar, on the first day of training for new recruits in Karen State, on May 7. | Daniel Berehulak / The New York Times

By Hannah Beech
The New York Times

Jul 17, 2024

Deep in the sweltering jungles of Myanmar this spring, a rebel commander stood in front of 241 recruits for Day 1 of basic training.

The troops — part of a resistance fighting an unpopular military dictatorship — were organized in rows by height, starting at less than 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall.

A spotted dog patrolled the ragged lines before settling in the dirt for a snooze.

In the war against the junta in Myanmar, a poet commands a rebel army

In your social network

In your inbox

In your social network

In your inbox