A resistance leader in Myanmar turns himself in to the army after clashing with rival force

Myanmar Resistance Leader Surrenders to Military Amid Factional Fighting

A key figure in Myanmar’s armed resistance movement has surrendered to the military government, highlighting deep divisions within opposition forces fighting the country’s ruling junta. Bo Nagar, a prominent leader of the Burma National Revolutionary Army (BNRA), turned himself in to military authorities in the Sagaing Region on Wednesday, according to state media reports released Thursday.

State-run Myanma Alinn newspaper published photographs showing Bo Nagar, also known as Naing Lin, alongside weapons he had surrendered. The report indicated that he and several family members contacted military officials in Pale township to “return to the legal fold.” Independent Myanmar media outlets reported that army helicopters airlifted Bo Nagar and his family members from his stronghold in central Sagaing.

The surrender came after Bo Nagar’s group faced attacks from rival resistance forces aligned with the National Unity Government (NUG), the shadow administration formed by elected lawmakers ousted during the military coup in February 2021. The military takeover sparked nationwide protests that evolved into armed resistance after peaceful demonstrations were violently suppressed.

Tensions between Bo Nagar’s BNRA and local People’s Defense Force (PDF) units—which operate under the NUG’s nominal command—had been building since last year. The conflict reportedly centered on allegations that BNRA fighters were extorting money at checkpoints in areas under their control.

The situation escalated dramatically last week when, by the BNRA’s own admission, its members killed a PDF fighter during a dispute over a weapon. PDF forces retaliated Tuesday by raiding BNRA positions, forcing Bo Nagar to seek military protection.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the NUG claimed the conflict arose after BNRA members refused to cooperate with investigations into alleged criminal activities, including the killing of PDF members and sexual violence. The shadow government also stated that approximately 150 BNRA members had surrendered to join PDF forces.

NUG spokesperson Nay Phone Latt told The Associated Press on Thursday that authorities had received disturbing reports about the BNRA. “We have received reports of child rape and other crimes committed by some BNRA members, including Bo Nagar,” he said, adding that Bo Nagar appeared to have maintained contact with military officials before his evacuation.

Bo Nagar rose to prominence in the early phase of the resistance movement as leader of the Myanmar Royal Dragon Army, which initially aligned with the NUG and became a primary target of military operations. In September 2023, he reorganized his forces as the BNRA, distancing the group from the mainstream PDF units.

The military-controlled media used the opportunity to promote its amnesty program, stating that other resistance fighters who surrender “will be welcomed and accepted, provided with the necessary assistance and support, and cash rewards for any arms and ammunition.”

This high-profile defection underscores the complex challenges facing Myanmar’s opposition movement as it attempts to maintain unity while fighting against the entrenched military regime. Sagaing Region, where these events unfolded, has been a stronghold of resistance since the 2021 coup, with large areas falling under rebel control.

The infighting among resistance groups presents a significant advantage to the military government, which continues to face international condemnation and economic sanctions while struggling to establish full control over large portions of the country that remain contested. As Myanmar approaches three years under military rule, the situation has evolved into a full-scale civil war across multiple regions, with no clear resolution in sight.