People’s Defence Force (PDF)
The People’s Defence Force(Burma) is the member of DAB, NCUB and one of the new generation democratic forces born during the period of the 1988 general uprising. It was established on the 26th of December 1989 under the leadership of ex-colonel Sein Mya, one of the core activists of the Burmese Independence Struggle.We are a major democratic force working in the Mergui, Tavoy, and the Pegu, Rangoon and Irrawaddy districts. We have many active and operational members inside Burma and along the border.
The PDF was ably led by ex-Colonel Sein Mya until his untimely death on the front in 1993. Kyaw Htet, the current chairman of PDF, was a close comrade of Sein Mya and arrived with him in the liberated area in 1988.
Background history
The People’s Defence Force(Burma) is the member of DAB,NCUB and one of the new generation democratic forces born during the period of the 1988 general uprising. It was established on the 26th of December 1989 under the leadership of ex-colonel Sein Mya, one of the core activists of the Burmese Independence Struggle. We are a major democratic force working in the Mergui, Tavoy, and the Pegu, Rangoon and Irrawaddy districts. We have many active and operational members inside Burma and along the border.
The PDF was ably led by ex-Colonel Sein Mya until his untimely death on the front in 1993. Kyaw Htet, the current chairman of PDF, was a close comrade of Sein Mya and arrived with him in the liberated area in 1988.
Political Activities and Capacities of the PDF
Overview
We actively support the political leadership of the NLD and Aung San Suu Kyi and maintain close contact with the NLD both inside and outside Burma. The PDF Leading Committee, Working groups and membership strongly support the NLD Committee Representing People’s Parliament.
As outlined above, we have established and maintain special working groups in the following districts of Burma: Moulmein, Ye, Tavoy, Mergui, and Tha–Hton. Active members report to these groups from the following areas: Rangoon, Mandalay, Irawaddy Delta, and Ranong/Kaw Thoung. We also maintain a Regional Information Department to distribute information to citizens residing in affected areas. As a direct result of this communications infrastructure we have been able to quickly make available information from inside Burma to the NLD, NCGUB and other active opposition groups. We expect to increasingly make use of our capabilities to deliver information and news directly to the international community via electronic media.
Current Situation
Communications Network and Information Distribution
PDF efforts to revitalize the communications network inside Burma have been successful. Since the middle part of 1997 our network has been fully operational and continues to function efficiently. PDF committee members have been able to spend considerably more time inside Burma and travel over a wider area. As a result, our network of contacts and organizers has grown in strength and size. We are now able to collect and distribute information more quickly and reliably as a result. Our YOMA(3) Information Group is fully functional.
