An Interview with Bo Yarma, Leader of the Eagle Guerrilla Group
July 25th, 2022
Since the military coup, hundreds of People’s Defense Forces (PDF) have formed to fight against the coup regime in Myanmar. Among them is the Eagle Guerrilla Group, which belongs to Company-1 of Pauk Township Battalion-4 in the southern part of the township in Pakokku District, Magway Region.
In this interview, the Eagle Guerrilla Group explains the reason for its formation and its current military activities.
Q: Please introduce the Eagle Guerrilla Group first.
A: The Eagle Guerrilla Group was established with the sole purpose of overthrowing the military dictatorship.
Q: Can you please tell me about the group’s current military activities?
A: The group was established more than a year ago. As for military activities, we’re fighting with what we have. We don’t have enough weapons yet. Since the establishment, we’ve already clashed with the soldiers of the military council three times. We’ve also taken out loyal supporters of the military dogs (military council members) as often as we’ve had the opportunity. As a PDF unit, we’ve disrupted the coup regime’s administrative apparatus to the point where they can no longer operate in the area.
Q: Is there any communication or cooperation between the Eagle Guerrilla Group and the NUG?
A: There’s communication between Battalion-4 and the NUG. We do expect financial support from the NUG, but honestly not much. Because we, the Eagle Guerrilla Group, strongly believe that we’ll continue the fight against the junta with all the weapons we have, whether they are homemade ones.
Q: Can you tell me about the military situation and the deployment of the junta’s military columns in the southern part of Pauk Township?
A: The military situation right now is that we have control over our own borders. If their military column advances, we’ll attack defensively. Right now, we have to rely mainly on guerrilla tactics, and it’s not possible for us to engage in a direct confrontation with them. So, we’ll fight back with guerrilla tactics.
Q: We heard that many villages were burned in Pauk area? How many people have been displaced by the war there so far?
A: In the southern part of Pauk Township, so many villages were burned [by the military council troops]. As you know, the number of IDPs has increased because of this, but it’s difficult to give the exact numbers.
Q: As an under-armed resistance group, with what weapons are you mainly fighting against the military council?
A: Our resistance group isn’t fully armed, so we mainly attack with mines. We also use mines as our main weapon in the battles.
Q: One last question: what message do you want to convey to the people about the revolution?
A: We’re not a well-known resistance group like most others and receive less funding. So, we need the financial support of the people. We need to rely on the people. Only with people’s funding can our group move forward. So, we want people to support us as well.
Sent by Than Lwin Times
