The Role of Ethnic Minorities in the Resistance Movement

Abstract

This article explores the role of some prominent ethnic minority armies in the course of resistance to the coup. It selectively describes how some ethnic minorities such as Karen, Kachin, Karenni, Chin, Rakhine, Wa, and Shan play leadership role in the resistance movement before and after the 2021 military coup. It emphasizes the ongoing movement of how the 2021 coup created a window of opportunity for the interreligious collaboration between such ethnic minority groups and ethnic majority Bamar groups. It then shows how their interethnic collaboration blocked coup makers from consolidating their powers. The article also highlights how some ethnic minority Christian leaders, pastors, lay Christians, nuns, and priests witness their prophetic and apostolic faith in various ways of hidden and public resistance.