Behind Enemy Lines

Insight Myanmar

Episode #258: On this special day of August 8th, the anniversary of 8888, we bring you a story of freedom.

Azad's mission is a testament to the enduring spirit of international solidarity and the fight for democracy. An internationalist from the USA, Azad's journey began in the heart of the Rojava revolution in northeastern Syria, where he spent four years aligning with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). This experience deepened his commitment to revolutionary causes and honed his skills as a fighter and trainer. Motivated by a sense of duty to support oppressed peoples, he transitioned to the conflict in Myanmar, embedding himself in the resistance movement in Chin State.

Azad's mission in Myanmar is multifaceted, focusing on providing advanced sniper training and enhancing the operational capabilities of local resistance fighters. Despite the challenges, including limited resources and harsh conditions, efforts like Azar’s are crucial in helping level the playing field against the well-armed—though demoralized— Burmese military forces. His training emphasizes the importance of precision, technical expertise, and strategic acumen, aiming to transform motivated but inexperienced locals into effective combatants.

“The revolution in northeastern Syria and the revolution that's going on here touch very much on the same wavelength, if you will,” he says. “People all over the world, they're looking at these revolutions that are happening. And the question is people; not governments, not states, not organizations. The question is people! When they're faced with dictatorship, when they're faced with tyranny, or when people come together and they want to fight for their own freedom for their own autonomy for their own self-determination … can they do it?”