“They gave us 20 lakh MMK (USD 510) as ‘compensation’ and told us to settle the case. They warned us not to let the news spread. Because the perpetrator is a soldier, we are forced to live in fear of their guns.”

The voice belongs to Nang Kham*, recounting what happened to her younger sister in Hsenwi Township. Residents say the rule of law has deteriorated to the point where justice can be negotiated, silenced, or bought.

Her testimony is more than a family’s tragedy. It reflects the reality facing women in conflict-controlled territories, where armed actors dominate governance and civilians often have nowhere to seek protection.

A Walk Home That Became a Nightmare

The assault occurred in April 2025, on the eve of Thingyan. Nang Aye Hseng*, 15, had already lost access to education after the COVID-19 pandemic and the upheaval following Operation 1027 forced her to leave school in seventh grade. Instead of studying, she worked on upland farms to support her family.

That evening, while walking home alone, a soldier from the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), also known as the Kokang Army, allegedly dragged her into roadside bushes and raped her.

She returned home but said nothing.

“When she came back, I immediately sensed something was wrong. She wasn’t acting like herself. She was too ashamed to speak,” Nang Kham said. “It was only later that night, after I comforted her and kept asking, that she broke down and said, ‘A Kokang soldier raped me.’ We are just lucky he didn’t kill her.”

Her family cried through the night. For the teenager, the trauma has become a permanent shadow.

Justice Replaced by Payment

Seeking accountability, the family approached village elders and local officials linked to the armed group controlling the area. Instead of an investigation or prosecution, they say they received money — and instructions to remain silent.

“Because the perpetrator was a Kokang soldier, we reported it through the village elders, thinking it would be handled properly,” Nang Kham said. “But neither the elders nor the Kokang leaders took action.”

Residents describe a system in which complaints against armed personnel rarely progress. Compensation payments frequently replace legal proceedings, effectively privatizing justice.

In territories governed by weapons rather than courts, dignity becomes negotiable currency. Sexual violence, locals say, is among the most feared crimes — not only because of the act itself, but because perpetrators are unlikely to face consequences.

Living With the Aftermath

Since the assault, Nang Aye Hseng’s behavior has changed dramatically.

“She can no longer sleep easily at night. Even during the day, she won’t go anywhere without a family member,” said her sister, Nang Aye Hlaing*. “She becomes frightened when she sees male strangers. She doesn’t speak to people the way she used to.”

Across northern Shan State, women describe daily life shaped by fear: gunfire echoing at night, tense crossings at armed checkpoints, and uncertainty over who controls which territory.

A woman from Kawng Haw village tract said the number of armed actors in Hsenwi Township increased after Operation 1027, bringing an influx of non-local soldiers and outside businessmen. Since then, she said, insecurity has followed women into their homes.

Residents report that robbery, murder, sexual assault, and domestic violence have become persistent concerns.

“When violence happens, victims must remain silent out of fear,” said Nang Kham Mai of the Shan Women’s Action Network. “Even community members who know about it do not dare to speak up.”

Crimes Hidden From Public View

Villagers say another case occurred on August 28, 2025, when a Kokang soldier allegedly raped and murdered a Chinese schoolteacher in Man Pan village, about six miles from Hsenwi. Residents say details were suppressed.

“At first, we thought ethnic armed groups would behave better than the previous military authorities,” said resident Nang Lu*. “But over time, their actions have not been different. When the teacher was killed, they did not allow any information to spread.”

Advocates say such cases are often handled through informal settlements rather than formal legal processes.

“Because the perpetrators are their own soldiers, they fear reputational damage,” said Nang Khin Thu*, who works on women’s affairs. “For them, tens of lakhs of money is not difficult. But unarmed civilians are terrified when confronted by men with guns.”

The Women’s League of Burma documented nearly 1,000 cases of sexual violence nationwide in the five years following the coup, including 209 cases in 2025 alone. Activists stress that these figures likely represent only a fraction of actual incidents, as many survivors never report assaults.

Punishment Without Protection

Residents say that on October 26, 2025, MNDAA judicial authorities publicly executed two of their own members, including one accused of murdering the teacher. Five others reportedly received lengthy prison sentences.

Earlier, on April 10, 2025, before control of Lashio shifted again, seven men convicted of violent crimes were sentenced to death, and one rapist received life imprisonment.

Such punishments, locals say, offer little reassurance. Executions may demonstrate authority, but they do not create systems that prevent abuse or enable victims to report safely.

Silence as Survival

Advocates say many survivors choose silence to protect family reputation or avoid retaliation. Others accept financial settlements because poverty leaves them few alternatives.

“Although we cannot provide precise data now, violence in the region is still increasing,” Nang Kham Mai said. “After Operation 1027, it became more difficult to collect information. There may be many incidents we do not know about.”

She added that records from 2023 and 2024 documented more than 80 cases of violence against women — but only those that could be verified.

Her conclusion is stark: those in power must establish transparent legal systems — and must stop committing abuses themselves.

A Generation Growing Up Afraid

Since the coup, survivors of sexual violence across Myanmar face immense barriers to speaking publicly: threats, stigma, lack of legal protection, and fear of social exclusion. In territories controlled by armed factions, those barriers are even higher.

For many women in MNDAA-controlled areas, daily life has become an exercise in vigilance — moving carefully, avoiding attention, hoping not to become the next victim.

For Nang Aye Hseng, the fear is already permanent.

Her sister says she now lives quietly, rarely leaving home, carrying memories she never asked for and cannot escape.

*Names have been changed for security reasons.

Originally written in Burmese by Nang Mwe Kham. Translated into English by Eugene.