When Khu Reedu first joined the resistance following the 2021 Myanmar coup, it was like a prophecy had been fulfilled. There is an old belief that one day a young man of Karenni descent would rise to free his people from nearly a century of oppression and violence. Today, many see that prophecy beginning to take shape as Reedu leads one of the most effective and influential revolutionary forces in the country. 

Reedu tells me that in Karenni, it’s not possible for freedom to occur without armed revolution. Liberation must be taken, not achieved through dialogue

Reedu tells me that in Karenni, it’s not possible for freedom to occur without armed revolution. Liberation must be taken, not achieved through dialogue

In March, I found myself riding alongside him on motorcycles, racing through rough terrain somewhere between Karenni state’s Shadaw township and the town of Demoso.

Since 2023, I’ve spent months alongside Reedu, living among a platoon of his men and women who had been with him since the beginning. I’ve spent long stretches near – or directly on – the frontline, at times falling into the crosshairs of the Myanmar junta myself. Reedu’s rise has taken place in the wake of Myanmar’s so-called Spring Revolution, or civil war.The conflict erupted after the military seized power in a 2021 coup, ousting the elected government and triggering a nationwide uprising. What began as mass protests quickly evolved into armed resistance, with newly formed People’s Defence Forces joining long-established ethnic armed groups to fight the junta across multiple fronts. The military has responded with airstrikes, scorched-earth tactics and widespread abuses, while the resistance has captured territory in many parts of the country. The conflict is now a fragmented but sustained war, with no clear end in sight.Reedu is a member of the Karenni Nationalities Defense Forces (KNDF) – and one of its most fearsome fighters. Although he is no taller or more muscular than the other men, his eyes have an intense determination. He has led numerous attacks on Myanmar forces, winning many battles and liberating entire towns from the junta. Resistance soldiers tell me........

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