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KNU Headquarters: The rebel stronghold in the Kayin State

Fighters of Brigade 7 of the Karen National Union Army rest on the back of a pick up truck after returning from the frontline in KNU Headquarters, Kayin State, Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

Lush mountain range of Kayin State of Myanmar is seen across the Moei River that runs between Thailand-Myanmar border during sunset, Tak, Thailand

Padoh Saw Thaw Thi Bwe, 64, Joint Secretary II of the Karen National Union eats cookie and drink coffee inside the office of the Karen National Liberation Army in KNU Headquarters, Kayin State, Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

Crosses are seen over the tomb at a cemetery of high-ranking officials of Karen National Union Army in KNU Headquarters, Kayin State, Republic of the Union of Myanmar. The Karen conflict is among the world's longest-running civil wars that has continued for over seven decades.

A maimed arm of a fighter of an ethnic armed organizations after getting injured by an antipersonnel landmine while recovering at a hospital, Kayin State, Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

Healthcare personnels are seen providing medical checkup at a hospital, Kayin State, Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

KNU fighters of Brigade 7 sleep inside a shed after returning from the frontline in KNU Headquarrters, Kayin State, Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

Wai Yan Minn Thein, 33, Karen National Liberation Army sergeant and a former Starbucks barrista from Yangon shows a picture of him with colleagues during work before the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état in KNU Headquarters, Kayin State, Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

A former fighter of Karen National Union interacts with his pet dog, Kayin State, Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

As twilight approaches, villagers gather at a grocery store to socialize before bedtime, Kayin State, Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

A child in school uniform with an umbrella hat is seen running along an empty unpaved road on a mountain, Kayin State, Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

Fighters of Brigade 7 of the Karen National Union Army are seen riding on the back of a pick up truck through the mountainous landscape after returning from the frontline, Kayin State, Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

For decades, Myanmar’s ethnic minorities have rebelled against the country’s military, but mostly on their own and with little success. Now, however, nearly three years after a military coup ousted Myanmar’s democratic government and triggered a civil war, it’s these ethnic rebels, camped out in the country’s mountains and jungles, who pose the biggest potential threat to the ruling junta.

Read on The Washington Post

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