The three-finger salute is a powerful symbol of protest against oppressive regimes, used by those fighting for democracy and freedom. Its usage in Myanmar and Thailand highlights its importance as a sign of resilience in the face of authoritarianism.

Demonstrators across Myanmar, from urban centers to rural villages, raised the three-finger salute during rallies, marches, and sit-ins. The three-finger salute remains a lasting emblem of the Myanmar Spring Revolution.

The salute was popularized by the “Hunger Games” film series, where it symbolized rebellion against tyranny and solidarity among oppressed communities.

The Spring Revolution is a nationwide movement in Myanmar resisting the military coup that took place on February 1, 2021. It encompasses various forms of resistance, including protests, civil disobedience, and armed resistance, aimed at ending military dictatorship, restoring democracy, and establishing a federal system that grants self-governance to ethnic groups, addressing long-standing demands for autonomy and equality within a unified Myanmar.

A “casserole protest,” also known as a “cacerolazo” (Spanish for “casserole”) or “pot-banging protest,” is a form of protest where people make noise by banging pots, pans, and other kitchen utensils. It became a widespread form of peaceful protest immediately following the 2021 coup as a way to express opposition to the military takeover and show solidarity with the resistance movement. It’s a way for people to participate in collective action from their homes, especially during times of curfews or crackdowns on street protests.

Non-violent actions like street demonstrations, Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), symbolic acts, and creative expressions of resistance against the military coup.

The Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) in Myanmar is a nationwide campaign of nonviolent resistance against the military coup. It primarily involves civil servants and other professionals refusing to work under the military junta, disrupting the functioning of the state and demonstrating widespread opposition to the coup.

The Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) was one of the first large-scale, non-violent protests after the military coup. It saw government workers, including doctors, teachers, and civil servants, and etc, refuse to work in protest against the junta. The movement has inspired widespread acts of defiance against the military regime and remains a cornerstone of the resistance.

The Steering Council for the Emergence of a Federal Democratic Union (SCEF), as of March 30, 2026, is a joint initiative by the NUG and CRPH, working together with ethnic organizations such as the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), Karen National Union (KNU), Chin National Front (CNF), and Karenni representatives.

SCEF coordinates efforts to build a federal democratic system in Myanmar. Its key goals include:

– Abolishing the military coup and permanently ending the involvement of the Myanmar military in politics

– Repealing the 2008 Constitution and opposing any attempts to reinstate it

– Placing all armed forces under the administration and control of a democratically elected civilian government

The Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) is a group of elected lawmakers from Myanmar’s parliament (Pyidaungsu Hluttaw) who were ousted in the 2021 military coup. They formed the CRPH to represent the legitimate, democratically elected government and oppose the military junta.

NUCC stands for the National Unity Consultative Council, which is a coalition of pro-democracy and ethnic organizations in Myanmar that was formed in response to the February 2021 military coup. The NUCC was created to bring together various groups including ethnic armed organizations, political parties, and civil society groups aiming to unify and coordinate efforts to resist the military regime and establish a federal democratic system in Myanmar.

The Interim National Unity Government is the only and legitimate Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar formed by the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw – CRPH with the authority bestowed by the People’s mandate of multi-party democratic election held in Nov 2020 in discussion with National Unity Consultative Council. The Interim National Unity Government will implement the goal, objective and steps of the political road map as prescribed in Part I of the Federal Democracy Charter in discussion with the NUCC. Interim National Unity Government shall be accountable to Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw

The People’s Defence Force (PDF) is the armed wing of the National Unity Government (NUG) in Myanmar. Formed in response to the violent crackdowns on peaceful protesters after the 2021 coup. It consists of a coalition of anti-junta fighters, including former military personnel, pro-democracy activists, ethnic armed groups, and civilians, all united in their opposition to the military dictatorship. The PDF has become one of the key military forces challenging the military and its rule since the coup.The primary mission of People’s Defence Force (PDF) is to defend and protect lives, properties and livelihoods of the people and the Federal Union of Myanmar.

– We will be loyal to the Union and its citizens.
– We will remain loyal to the heroes who fell in the fight for federal democracy.
– We will protect the lives and property of the people.
– We pledge to sacrifice our lives for the construction of the Federal Union.

Ethnic Resistance Organizations (EROs) are political and armed groups formed by ethnic minorities to defend their right, autonomy, fair use of resources, protection of their culture, and an end to human rights abuses by the Myanmar military.
In Myanmar, groups like the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) represent their ethnic communities and play a key role in ongoing armed struggle. They use both armed struggle and peace negotiations to address long-standing issues.
The term “ERO” became well-known in Myanmar’s long struggle for peace and unity among its many ethnic groups.

In Myanmar, People’s Defence Organizations (PDOs) are local militias formed after the 2021 coup to fight the military. They are part of the resistance led by the National Unity Government (NUG). PDOs work in communities to protect civilians and support the fight for democracy. They team up with the People’s Defence Forces (PDF) and Ethnic Resistance Organizations (EROs) to disrupt military actions and defend against the junta, relying on local support despite limited resources.

The People’s Administration Organization (PAO) in Myanmar was created by the National Unity Government (NUG) after the 2021 coup. It acts as an alternative government in areas controlled by the resistance, providing basic services, maintaining order, and supporting democracy.
The PAO works with People’s Defence Forces (PDFs) and Ethnic Resistance Organizations EROs to handle security, collect taxes, and provide necessary public services such as education, healthcare, and justice. It represents the fight for a federal democratic system in Myanmar.

Aung San Suu Kyi is the most prominent Myanmar political leader, human rights advocate, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who became internationally known for her leadership in the struggle for democracy and human rights in Myanmar (formerly Burma). She played a central role in the country’s pro-democracy movement, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s, and served as Myanmar’s State Counsellor (de facto leader) from 2016 until she was ousted by a military coup in February 2021.

Click here to know more about Aung San Suu Kyi

U Win Myint served as the President of Myanmar before the 2021 military coup. He was a leading member of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party, led by Aung San Suu Kyi. Following the coup, he was ousted and detained by the military, along with other NLD leaders. Despite his detention, he is still recognized by the National Unity Government (NUG) as the legitimate President of Myanmar. In short, U Win Myint is the democratically elected President of Myanmar who was forcefully removed from power by the military coup and is now a key figurehead in the NUG’s fight for the restoration of democracy.

Click here to know more about U Win Myint

Duwa Lashi La is a key figure in Myanmar’s resistance movement against the military coup. He serves as the Acting President of the National Unity Government (NUG).

He is an ethnic Kachin politician and lawyer with a long history of involvement in Myanmar’s political landscape. He previously served as the president of this important Kachin political body, Kachin National Consultative Council.

He was appointed Vice-President of the NUG in April 2021. Since the elected President U Win Myint has been detained by the military junta since the coup, Duwa Lashi La has been serving as the Acting President.

As Acting President, he plays a crucial role in coordinating the NUG’s efforts to oppose the military regime and restore democracy in Myanmar. He is a prominent voice advocating for a federal democratic union that ensures self-determination for ethnic groups.

Click here to know more about Duwa Lashi La

Mahn Winn Khaing Thann, an ethnic Karen lawyer and former speaker of Myanmar’s parliament, serves as the Prime Minister of the National Unity Government (NUG). Coming from a family with a history of political involvement, he plays a crucial role in leading the NUG’s efforts to gain international recognition and coordinate resistance against the military junta. His leadership symbolizes the NUG’s commitment to a more inclusive and representative future for Myanmar.

Click here to know more about Mahn Winn Khaing Thann

Myanmar poses risks beyond its borders due to a combination of political instability, organized crime, and transnational criminal networks. Activities such as large-scale online scams, drug production, and human trafficking originating in Myanmar affect multiple countries worldwide. After the military coup in 2021, the situation has worsened, with increased opium cultivation, methamphetamine production, and expansion of scam operations, further amplifying its impact on regional and global security.

Myanmar has become a central hub for large-scale cybercrime operations, particularly in Shwe Kokko, Myawaddy, and Shan State. These areas host organized scam centers where individuals are trafficked and forced to engage in romance fraud, investment scams, and cryptocurrency fraud.

In 2023 and 2024, Southeast Asian scam syndicates—including those in Myanmar—are estimated to have stolen up to $1 trillion globally (globalinitiative.net
).
The situation has worsened since the 2021 military coup, allowing these operations to expand with minimal oversight. International efforts to combat these scams face challenges due to entrenched criminal networks and local complicity.

Myanmar is the world’s largest producer of methamphetamine (yaba and crystal meth). It is also the second-largest producer of opium and heroin. Most of these drugs are trafficked to Thailand, China, Australia, Japan, and other countries, funding organized crime and armed groups.

Yes. Many victims are trafficked into forced labor in scam compounds or drug production facilities. The profits often support armed militias and the military regime, contributing to ongoing conflict and regional instability.

International organizations, including the UN, Interpol, and national governments, are taking measures to disrupt scams, combat drug trafficking, and rescue trafficked victims. However, lawless border regions and armed group protection make enforcement challenging.

The People’s Resistance War is a nationwide uprising against the military junta, involving not just organized armed groups such as the PDF and EROs, but also widespread civilian participation in various forms of resistance.

The Spring Revolution aims to overthrow the military junta and reinstate the democratically elected government, establishing a federal democratic system to build a “New Myanmar” where all citizens can live in peace and equality.

The Myanmar Spring Revolution’s strength lies in its self-reliance, fueled by the unwavering support of the Myanmar people. Funding comes primarily from within, with diaspora communities, crowdfunding, supportive local businesses, and NUG initiatives—including bond sales, the Spring Development Bank, and establishing local tax systems in liberated areas—empowering the resistance. This collective financial power, supplemented by other contributions from EROs, has been crucial for the movement’s sustainability.

NUG Pay is a digital payment system created by Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG) to support the pro-democracy movement and challenge the military junta’s control over money. It works as an e-wallet for secure payments and donations in areas controlled by the resistance.
NUG Pay helps fund the NUG’s work, including supporting People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) and providing humanitarian aid. It is a step toward financial freedom and building a democratic Myanmar.

The Spring Development Bank (SDB), launched by the National Unity Government (NUG), is a revolutionary financial tool empowering the people of Myanmar in their fight against the military junta. By providing a secure, blockchain-based alternative to the junta’s financial system, the SDB fuels the resistance and paves the way for a future democratic economy. This innovative approach demonstrates the NUG’s commitment to building a “New Myanmar” and winning the fight for freedom.

While the situation remains complex, the junta faces a powerful and increasingly coordinated resistance. Empowered by widespread civilian support, territorial losses, economic pressure, and growing international recognition of the NUG, the anti-coup movement demonstrates significant strength and resilience against the military regime, suggesting a shifting momentum in favor of the anti-coup movement.

The junta’s hold on power in Myanmar is increasingly precarious, with the NUG and allied EROs controlling a substantial portion of the country. As of the beginning of 2025, reports indicate the resistance controls over 90 towns and more than 50 townships, encompassing over 60% of Myanmar’s territory. This significant loss of control underscores the junta’s weakening grip and the growing strength of the resistance movement.

The military government changed the country’s name from Burma to Myanmar in 1989. It said the move was meant to distance the nation from its British colonial past. After the 1988 crackdown, the junta also sought greater international legitimacy and hoped a new name would improve its image. The change was made without a public vote or national referendum.