The military has seized power and is holding the country in an iron grip. It’s backed by a superpower benefiting from a friendly junta, prioritizing stability and trade over human rights or democracy.

It’s a familiar story. On the surface, the political situation in Myanmar could easily be compared to Egypt (with its US support), Belarus (with Russia), or Syria (with Iran). But where the struggle for freedom and national self-determination seems at an impasse in many cases around the world, in Myanmar change is afoot. Here, rebels continue to fight the Tatmadaw, the country’s infamous military junta whose claim to power is backed by China. In October 2023, the rebels launched a major offensive, known as Operation 1027, which is now pushing military rule to its limits.

So, what’s different about Myanmar? “The rebels have slowly been wearing down the military since the fighting started,” explains prodemocracy activist Michael Sladnick, who is currently in Myanmar. He started doing solidarity work, donated money to resistance groups and learned Burmese while talking to rebel groups online. Leaving the comforts of Chicago, he moved to the borderlands between Thailand and Burma in July 2023. He now works with people from different rebel factions united in the goal of removing the dictatorship.