Three Myanmar women involved in resisting the 2021 military coup

Ma Ni, 50, is a mother of two who worked as a township-level executive member of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party in Kalaw Township, located in southern Shan State 44 miles (70 km) west of the state capital Taunggyi, before the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021 changed her career trajectory.

“Since peaceful protestors across the country were violently suppressed and killed by the military, I knew in my gut that we had to take up arms to fight back,” Ma Ni told DVB. 

She and her family left their home in Aungban Township, located 35 miles (56 km) northwest of the state capital Taunggyi, heading into the jungles of southern Shan to join armed resistance to the 2021 coup.