Chaung-U Township People's Defence Force

The Chaung-U Township People's Defence Force (CHU PDF) was founded on June 7, 2021, by revolutionary forces in Chaung-U Township that were opposing and resisting the terrorist military council by all means. Young people in Chaung-U Township also took part in the urban guerrilla resistance that emerged after the Myanmar military crushed protesters following the 2021 coup. On the morning of May 13, 2021, the Myanmar military raided a place where Chaung-U Generation Z youths were staying, leading to an exchange of fire; two young people were arrested and the remaining homemade guns were destroyed by the military. A Chaung-U strike leader told DVB that there were also some deaths on the Myanmar military's side.

The CHU PDF's founding objectives are:

(1) to uproot and crush military dictatorship and bring about a genuine federal democratic union;

(2) to cut off and suppress the terrorist military council's administrative machinery in Chaung-U Township;

(3) to protect the people of Chaung-U Township from the danger of the terrorist military council's proxy insurgents; and

(4) to obey the orders of the National Unity Government's Ministry of Defence and wage effective battles together with ethnic armed organizations, local defence forces and political forces.

After forming, the CHU PDF conducted guerrilla warfare against the Myanmar military and the police under its command. It also formed alliances with local people's defence forces in Monywa, Myaung, Shwebo, Ayadaw, Myinmu, Pale, Depayin, Sagaing, Yesagyo, Pakokku and Myingyan, and carried out joint attacks in those areas. On September 5, 2021, to crush Myanmar military-affiliated forces in Sagaing and Magway regions, it formed an alliance with 27 Revolution Forces (Myin Gyan PDF), the Pakokku People Defense Force (PPDF), the Hnalone Hla Lu Mike Gyi Group, People Defense Force Yesagyo, the Ayadaw Township Revolutionary Force, the Mawlaik People's Defence Force (MLPDF), Shwe Bo PDF (GR), People Defense Force (DPY), the Myinmu Township People's Defence Force (MMU PDF), the Myaing Township People's Defence Force (MYG PDF), the Sagaing People's Defence Force (SGG), the Pale People Defense Force, and the Myaung Township People's Defence and Security Organization (CDSOM).

It also has close relations with the Monywa People's Defence Force (MPDF, now the BLDF) and carried out urban guerrilla operations in Monywa town. On September 24, 2021, the CHU PDF issued a warning letter calling on ward and village administrators in Chaung-U Township to resign; on the 25th and 26th, 37 ward and village administrators resigned, and almost all administrators in the township stepped down.

On September 16, 2021, fighting broke out near Me Thae Kyo village, about two miles from Chaung-U, with an advancing column; the Myanmar military used helicopters and some snipers, and five CHU PDF members were killed and one captured. Myanmar military Telegram channels spread propaganda with a video in which the captured young member was made to hold the seized homemade guns, sit beside the fallen comrades and repeatedly say "I'm from Chaung-U PDF". Myanmar Now reported that the bodies of the fallen CHU PDF members had been mutilated. The CHU PDF stated that it would work to ensure that all those responsible for the loss of its comrades receive the punishment they deserve.

To this day, CHU PDF members still chant "I'm from Chaung-U PDF" at every morning assembly. After battles and camp-capturing operations, they also chant this slogan to celebrate victory.

On April 17, 2022, strike leaders from the Monywa Mass Strike Leading Committee staged a protest on the Mandalay–Monywa road. Because the area was not fully controlled by people's defence forces, local defence forces including the CHU PDF provided security. The protest succeeded and the strike column dispersed, but Pyu Saw Htee militia attacked a security post, killing five CHU PDF members. The CHU PDF and the Monywa Mass Strike Leading Committee issued messages expressing sorrow for their deaths.

From June 2022, the CHU PDF has stood as the township people's defence force (PaKaFa) under the National Unity Government's Ministry of Defence. The CHU PDF is systematically organized and, like other people's defence forces (PDFs) in Monywa District, is capable of waging battles. In Chaung-U Township, the CHU PDF is based as the township PaKaFa, alongside some Monywa District battalions under the PDF and some local defence forces. In April 2023 it opened a leadership course and gave two months of training to member leaders.

The CHU PDF has declared that it will never collect taxes or levies from the public, and to date has opened no toll gates in Chaung-U Township or on highways.

Leader Ko Zay Nyi Thein told DVB's youth voice programme that the CHU PDF relies only on donations from the public, on seasonal crops its members grow in areas where residents willingly allow it and share with the community, and on funds shared back by the lottery group from selling support lottery tickets. He also said in the interview that the CHU PDF prioritizes the principles of "no harm to the people" and "no harm to comrades", and stands in harmony with local residents.