27 May 2026 By Mon Lay / MPA
Severe internal friction has erupted within the anti-junta resistance movement in Sagaing Region’s Minkin Township. The Student Revolutionary Force (SRF) has accused armed wings under the shadow National Unity Government (NUG) of breaching security guarantees to violently abduct their chairman and subsequently launching drone strikes against their positions.
The crisis began at approximately 2:00 PM on 26 May 2026, during an online coordination meeting via Zoom. The dialogue involved Ko San Tin Tun, Chairman of the SRF Central Executive Committee, the military officer in charge of the Minkin Township People’s Defense Team (known locally as Pa Ka Pha), and the Defense Minister of the Sagaing Unit Interim Government.
Following the digital conference, NUG-affiliated representatives, identified as Du John and Du Wa, reportedly offered full security guarantees and invited Ko San Tin Tun to an in-person meeting in Ah Nya Lal village. Trusting the protocol, the SRF chairman proceeded to the location accompanied by local village administrators and residents.
However, around 5:00 PM, as the delegation neared the rendezvous point, units from the Minkin Township People’s Administration Team (Pa Ah Pha), the Pa Ka Pha, and localized NUG-aligned battalions ambushed the convoy. The forces opened fire, striking and apprehending Chairman Ko San Tin Tun before transferring him to an undisclosed location.
During the ambush, accompanying civilians attempted to form a protective perimeter around the chairman. The arresting forces responded by opening fire on the crowd, resulting in gunshot wounds to two civilians, an adult male and an adult female.
The situation deteriorated further today, May 27, as NUG-controlled forces reportedly deployed combat drones to blockade and strike remaining SRF positions within Minkin Township. Military tension on the ground remains critical.
The internal clashes have broken out at a time when the military junta’s formal armed forces are actively launching a sweeping ground offensive in the same district. Highlighting the strategic blunder, Ko Wai Yan Phyo Moe, a fighter with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), expressed his criticism publicly on social media.
“Counter-revolutionary actions are taking place right now in Minkin, even as enemy columns are advancing. The SRF is a group that has consistently stood on the frontline, directly engaging the military dictatorship’s forces,” the PLA fighter noted.
He further alleged that NUG-affiliated units have expanded their operations to hunt down not only active SRF troops but also their immediate family members. “Withdraw the NUG forces surrounding them immediately. Release SRF Chairman Ko San Tin Tun,” he demanded.
Minkin residents, who are already enduring the harsh conditions of the wider civil war, expressed deep alarm over the breakdown of security pacts and the reliance on armed violence between allied resistance factions.
“With the military currently advancing into our area, opening fire on fellow revolutionary groups is entirely unacceptable,” a local activist commented. “It only benefits the common enemy. Settling a dispute through weapons when it could have been resolved through dialogue is a disastrous approach.”
The Student Revolutionary Force has issued a stinging condemnation of the incident, labeling it a calculated betrayal of a diplomatic commitment. The SRF has demanded the immediate, unconditional release of Chairman Ko San Tin Tun and insisted that the NUG apparatus take full organizational responsibility for the fallout of the escalation.
Editor: Ko San
