"At that moment, the entire trench was saturated with gunpowder fumes, with sparks scattered all around. Hindered by the dense smoke, I couldn't see anything”, Daw Chaw Su, a 40-year-old resistance fighter said. After the Battle of Hwayhkar, she was promoted to the rank of sergeant.

The capture of the Hwayhkar Base holds significant strategic importance as it serves as a crucial military installation linking Indawgyi and Hpakant. Losing it can be considered a significant blow to the Junta.

Born in Hwayhkar village located in Hpakant Township, known as the 'Land of Jade' in Kachin State, Daw Chaw Su was orphaned at a young age and raised by her aunt.

Daw Chaw Su, of mixed Shan heritage, was raised by adoptive Kachin parents and is known by her Kachin alias, Jan Man Khong Shan. As a single mother raising two daughters and two sons, she embraces her role with pride and determination.

Prior to their divorce, her husband was employed in the jade industry, while she managed her own textile business.Their family owned a car, a residence, and enjoyed a comfortable level of prosperity.

Following the unjust coup staged by the Myanmar Military in 2021, Daw Chaw Su emerged as a prominent leading figure within the anti-coup protest movement in the region.

Despite facing bitterness in her marriage, Daw Chaw Su remained resolute in her commitment to securing a better future for her children and future generations. This unwavering determination led her to take a prominent position at the forefront of the   Hwayhkar strike columns, opposing the military dictatorship.

As the Junta intensified its violent crackdown on protesters, Daw Chaw Su made the   difficult decision to cut ties with her family and personal belongings, fully immersing herself   in the life of an armed revolutionary fighter.

In May 2021, three months after the coup, she joined the ranks of armed revolutionaries. Recalling the recruitment period for the armed revolution in Hwayhkar, she humorously recounted being the sole woman enlisted and also assuming the leadership role representing her village.

"I still vividly remember that day, May 26th. When the call came to train about 10 Hwayhkar villagers for the revolution, we discussed who should assume the leadership position.

Ultimately, I willingly stepped forward to take on the role”, she said Later the armed resistance movement in Hwayhkar practically began with a group of 14 individuals, including her.

Daw Chaw Su emphasized that her unwavering determination to combat the Junta stemmed from her deep concern for the future of the Hpakant region and the well-being of her six children.

"I often pondered why our nation is burdened with immense suffering. Take our Kachin  State as an example. Despite its abundant jade resources, poverty remains widespread  while only a select few amass immense wealth. Contemplating these disparities led me to recognize the urgent need for systemic change”, she said.

Understanding that these injustices will always persist under the Junta's rule, Daw Chaw Su made the bold decision to relinquish her life as both a mother and an entrepreneur, abruptly transitioning to new life as an armed revolutionary.

Upon her return from military training, she found herself undesirably thrust into the limelight as the resistance leader in Hwayhkar. Aware of the potential dangers for her family, she made the difficult decision to leave the village and commence her revolutionary journey by providing logistical aid to the revolutionary forces.

"At that time, I was managing both driving and logistics. Eventually financial hardships  forced me to sell my car, leaving me unable to afford another one. As time went on, my  my funds were depleted, and I encountered numerous problems”, she recalled the harsh reality of the life of a resistance fighter.

Daw Chaw Su, a devout Christian, expressed her commitment to the Lord, but also dedicating her life to her work within the logistics troop.

On January 20th, the Battle of Hwayhkar unfolded, marking Daw Chaw Su's debut combat engagement. She stood as the sole woman to take part in the skirmish.

"At first, my comrades attempted to stop me. However recognizing my unwavering  determination to take on a combat role, they eventually relented and permitted me to  join the fight”, she explained.

Upon reaching the battlefield near her home village, the conflict between the Junta's 42nd Infantry Battalion and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA)-led resistance joint force was already fierce. Daw Chaw Su assumed the crucial role of supplying provisions to the resistance forces stationed in the foothills nearest to the Junta troops. Reflecting on the  intensity of the battle, she recounted how her comrades grew fatigued and provisions dwindled as the fighting persisted.

"The area where I had to deliver supplies was a foothill zone dangerously close to the enemy battalion. It was considered too risky for anyone to venture into, but I was determined enough to take the chance. To this day, my comrades express gratitude for my bravery”, Daw Chaw Su said. She remarked that despite risking her life, she felt immensely proud knowing she had managed to successfully deliver food   to her fellow fighters.

Around 4:00 pm, while she was taking a short break after delivering food, the armed clashes between the two sides suddenly intensified.

"At that moment, the entire trench was saturated with gunpowder fumes, with sparks  scattered all around. Hindered by the dense smoke, I couldn't see anything”, she recalled.

During a lull in the gunfire, Daw Chaw Su bravely joined fellow resistance fighters in a risky effort to retrieve the body of a fallen comrade.

"The resentment made my blood boil. I pleaded with my superiors to let me fight with a  gun. Initially, they resisted. However, as they recognized my fervor, they granted  permission. I meticulously gathered information about the enemy's position before  advancing. As I moved forward, the enemy opened fire, bullets whizzing past me”, she  said.

Thus during the final days of the battle to capture the Hwayhkar Base,, which commenced on January 6th, Daw Chaw Su transitioned from a logistics troop to an armed combatant, seizing the chance to engage directly in the fight. She positioned herself at the forefront of the battlefield, firing upon the enemy.

On January 20th, KIA-led resistance forces successfully captured the entire Hwayhkar Base belonging to the Junta’s 42nd Infantry Battalion. KIA also managed to take prisoners   of war (PoWs) and confiscate some weapons and ammunition.

The Hwayhkar Base holds significant strategic importance as it serves as a crucial military  installation linking Indawgyi and Hpakant. Losing it can be considered a significant blow  to the Junta. Two days after the capture of the base, on January 22nd, the KIA's military  headquarters recognized Daw Chaw Su for her valour in combat, awarding her the rank of sergeant.

"I went to meet them because the superiors said they wanted to see me. They informed me  about the promotion. While it's a positive development, for me, the rank holds little importance. My greatest desire is for the conflict to cease swiftly and for peace to prevail  throughout Myanmar”, she said.

Once a businesswoman and mother, Daw Chaw Su has now emerged as a brave revolutionary figure, earning widespread recognition and admiration among the people of Hpakant.

"A woman's life doesn't have to be defined as weak. Each of us possesses the capability to actively participate in the revolutionary movement and make meaningful contributions Therefore I urge you not to lose hope and to carry on your best efforts”, she said.

She disclosed her aspiration to live peacefully with her children once the military dictatorship comes to an end forever.