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In Pictures: Myanmar’s student army

The ceasefire between the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front and the Myanmar government is already in jeopardy.

A soldier stands guard on one side of the mountain while the Myanmar military is deployed on the other side.

By Htoo Tay Zar

Published On 2 Feb 2014

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The All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) is one of the last armed groups to sign a ceasefire agreement with the Myanmar government. ABSDF was founded by a group of Burmese students after the 1988 nationwide uprising which saw a crackdown by the military and the student army’s subsequent 25-year struggle for democracy. The ABSDF is one of the largest student and youth organisations based on Burma’s borders. 

Even though ABSDF has signed the ceasefire agreements, army leader Comrade Than Khae is still cautious about the Myanmar government’s reform process. The students’ army has decided to retain its arms until the group achieves its aims.

ABSDF’s Northern Burma branch is based in the Lahkum Bum area, near the ethnic rebel Kachin Independence Army (KIA) stronghold, Laiza. As fighting between the KIA army and the Myanmar military is still ongoing in several areas, it won’t take much to overturn the ceasefire agreements between ABSDF and the Myanmar government – unless the government reaches similar agreements with all the ethnic armed groups.


Female soldiers from ABSDF prepare flags for a ceremony in Lahkum Bum basecamp, to mark their 25-year struggle for democracy.
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ABSDF is believed to hold a total of nine camps across Myanmar(***)s borders with Thailand, India and China.
ABSDF is also suspected of having branches in countries like the United States and Australia.
A young girl from an ABSDF family welcomes guests during a ceremony to mark the group(***)s 25-year struggle for democracy.
ABSDF soldiers prepare for a parade in the Lahkum Bum area, Kachin state.
ABSDF soldiers stand guard during an assembly at their base camp in the Lahkum Bun area.
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An ABSDF soldier rests after a long day training at base camp.
An ABSDF soldier in the barracks at the base. 
The All Burma Students(***) Democratic Front had been listed as a terrorist organisation by the United States.
The students(***) army was believed to be 10,000 strong during its most active times.
Soldiers rest in the shade after their daily training.
The ABSDF is a member of the Asian Students Association, the International Union of Students and the World Federation of Democratic Youth.
Soldiers take a break for lunch.
The group has declared that one of its main objectives is to liberate Myanmar from oppression.