The Spring Revolution is the term used by Myanmar's pro-democracy movement to describe the nationwide resistance that followed the military coup of 1 February 2021, when the Tatmadaw under Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing detained State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint, and other National League for Democracy (NLD) leaders, voiding the results of the November 2020 general election.
The movement began with a Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) led by healthcare workers and civil servants, followed by mass street protests across Yangon, Mandalay, and ethnic regions. After security forces opened fire on demonstrators in February and March 2021, segments of the resistance moved toward armed struggle. Key features include:
- The formation of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) in February 2021 by ousted elected lawmakers.
- The proclamation of the National Unity Government (NUG) on 16 April 2021, presenting itself as the legitimate civilian authority.
- The NUG's announcement of a "people's defensive war" on 7 September 2021 and the organisation of People's Defence Forces (PDFs) operating alongside long-established ethnic armed organisations such as the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Karen National Union (KNU), and Chin National Front.
- The launch of Operation 1027 in late October 2023 by the Three Brotherhood Alliance (MNDAA, TNLA, AA), which significantly degraded junta control in northern Shan State.
The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights have documented mass civilian casualties, airstrikes on villages, and the burning of homes. ASEAN's Five-Point Consensus, agreed in Jakarta on 24 April 2021, has been widely judged to have failed to halt the violence, and Myanmar's junta representatives have been barred from ASEAN summits at the political level since late 2021.
The term Spring Revolution deliberately frames the post-coup resistance as a continuation of earlier democratic uprisings, including the 8888 Uprising and the 2007 Saffron Revolution.
Example
In April 2021, exiled lawmakers from the ousted NLD formed the National Unity Government to coordinate the Spring Revolution against Min Aung Hlaing's junta.
Frequently asked questions
It began in February 2021, following the Tatmadaw's coup on 1 February 2021, with the Civil Disobedience Movement and street protests escalating after security forces used lethal force on demonstrators.
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