Introduction

Buffalo Soldiers Freedom Force is an autonomous and insurrectionary group operating within the villages near the region Sagaing and Shwe Bo. As a Local Defence Force within the Myanmar Spring Revolution, they differ from the People's Defence Force due to their lack of affiliation with the National Unity Government (NUG).  They are a community-formed organization, established by villagers to protect their homes and surrounding areas from the Myanmar military junta.

Question 1: We would like to know about the origins of the Buffalo Soldiers and your political beliefs.

After the military junta violently cracked down on peaceful protests, some of us, including a co-founder of the "Buffalo Soldiers," sought refuge and training with the UNRA, led by Bo Khin Kyaw, inside KNU territory. We learned basic military skills, specializing in explosives and mine warfare, and eventually operated in places like Sagaing and Shwe Bo. We started with about 30 people, and now, as a Local Defence Force in the Myanmar Spring Revolution, we've grown to around hundreds.

We, the Buffalo Soldiers, are politically neutral. We don't support any one party. Our main goals are self-determination and federalism, which many ethnic groups have wanted for a long time. We don't believe in ethnic nationalism. We see this struggle against the military dictatorship and its broken education system as class struggle given the crony capitalist nature of the bureaucratic military class. The 2021 Spring Revolution is a chance for us to unite and fight for this class struggle, human rights, real change, and the end of the military dictatorship.

A lot of young revolutionaries, mostly working class, have travelled far to get military training from different rebel groups, including us. We know civilians can be mistaken for rebels, so we make sure our comrades are properly uniformed. We also give them intense psychological and physical training to prepare them for the trauma of combat. After they finish our training, they have to go on several missions before they can carry military-grade weapons. We're very strict about discipline and accountability. We know that one mistake can hurt the whole group's reputation. We, the Buffalo Soldiers, are determined to take back power from the military junta and give it back to the people.

Question 2: It is understood that the Buffalo Soldiers have a good relationship with the PDFs under the NUG. We would like to know the differing political stances between the Buffalo Soldiers and the NUG.

We, the Buffalo Soldiers, aren't officially part of the National Unity Government (NUG), but we work closely with their Ministry of Defence (MOD) battalions. We've done a lot of successful joint operations together. Our goal is simple: give power back to the people of Myanmar and fight against the injustice of the military dictatorship. We're not tied to any political party or group.

To be honest, we're not entirely sure what the NUG's long-term political goals are. We haven't seen a lot of real progress in the nearly four years since the revolution started, both diplomatically and militarily. And, frankly, they haven't been able to properly equip many of the NUG-affiliated groups, even here in Sagaing.

Even with these concerns, we recognize the NUG as the legitimate government. We're not trying to set up our own thing. We're focused on fighting. We leave the governing, health care, education, and rebuilding to them. It's like this: they govern, and we fight.

We believe that in a democracy, power belongs to the people. That's fundamental. Personally, I prefer the grassroot participatory democracy, a more libertarian system, one that puts individual rights ahead of just doing what the majority wants.

Question 3: Regarding the Buffalo Soldier's organizational structure (e.g., medical unit, logistics), please provide as much information as you can without compromising security.

The Buffalo Soldiers have many structural components, including:

1. Drone Unit
2. Production Unit
3. Mine Unit
4. Assault Unit
5. Training Unit
6. Headquarters Unit
7. Support Unit
8. Medical Unit
9. Agriculture and Livestock Unit (currently being implemented)

I will explain the role of each unit.

We, the Buffalo Soldiers, are organized into several specialized units. We have a Drone Unit, made up of a specialist operator and some assistants. They not only fly drones for operations but also train members of allied groups. They're always working to improve their skills too. Right now, they're helping with joint operations in the Kale-Tamu area, near the Indian border.

Our Production Unit, run by a manager and a team, is responsible for making mines, large-caliber ammo, barrels, drone bombs, handmade pistols, single-shot rifles, and handmade repeating rifles.

Then there's the Mine Unit. They've strategically placed mines on the Shwebo-Mandalay Road and in the Shwebo and Wetlet townships. They've had a lot of success hitting the military junta's (SAC) vehicles and bases with these mines. They've even gained control of some territory, including the Shwebo bypass and a couple of neighborhoods in Shwebo.

Our Assault Unit rotates its platoons. They fight in battles, participate in joint operations, carry out ambushes, and do reconnaissance. They also provide security during base and city seizures. One of our assault platoons is currently involved in the operation to take Kale-Tamu.

We have a Training Unit, staffed by guys who were trained by the Arakan Army (AA). They train our new recruits every week, using the Rakhine system. They just graduated their third class on August 10th.

Our Headquarters Unit handles a lot of important stuff: logistics, information and public relations, communications, intelligence, and all the administrative and medical support. The Support Unit takes care of local logistics, mostly getting food. Our Medical Unit provides regular training in emergency life-saving skills and first aid, so everyone who graduates can give emergency treatment.

Finally, we know we can't always rely on outside help. So, we're starting our own agricultural and livestock operations to make sure we have sustainable resources in the long run.

Question 4: As Buffalo Soldiers, how many battles have you fought against the military junta troops? Could you share some memorable experiences from those battles?

We've been in over 50 battles since the revolution began. We've talked about 45 of them publicly, but there are about 10 we haven't disclosed. Those unpublicized battles didn't result in any SAC casualties, so we didn't consider them effective enough to talk about.

To keep fighting, we desperately need weapons and ammunition. Local people help us with food sometimes, but it's not consistent. We really need a reliable source of funding every month. Right now, we don't have a major supporter who can guarantee a steady income, so our finances are always up in the air.

Our main needs are:

• Uniforms, combat boots, and hats for new recruits
• Capital for livestock farming within the unit
• Training costs to continue providing training
• PT uniforms
• Drone spare parts (propellers, receivers, remotes, batteries)
• 40mm grenades, detonators, wire spools
• Bulletproof helmets and vests
• Backpacks, underwear, blankets, and mosquito nets for the soldiers
• Feminine hygiene products for female soldiers
• Warm clothes (especially as winter is approaching)

For food supplies, we need rice, oil, salt, fish paste, dried fish, and other dried goods.

Question 5: As Buffalo Soldiers, can you share any information about the financial difficulties and logistical needs that are currently hindering your ability to continue fighting?

In the beginning, things were really tough. We were using these homemade muskets, Tumees, and they were incredibly unreliable. They were dangerous, too, not just to the enemy but to us as well. You never knew what would happen when you loaded them – too much gunpowder, and you could hurt yourself or someone nearby. The recoil was brutal, too. I remember during the Thit Seint battle in November 2021, we were up against guys with automatic weapons, and we had these Tumees. It was chaos. One of our guys was trying to fire his Tumee, and another guy behind him was messing with a battery to make it work, but the battery was dead. They didn't even realize it. While they were fiddling with it, the enemy was laying down heavy fire, and they had to run for their lives with the muskets still pointed forward. Those Tumees were a nightmare. People used to say they were just as likely to hurt us as the enemy.

We've also had some terrible losses. Bo Thamani, the son of the old CPB comrade Kyaw Mya, was killed along with two other comrades. They got misleading intel – they thought the enemy had retreated – and walked right into an ambush. Bo Thamani told the others to fall back, but he and Soe Paing stayed to cover them. Bo Thamani got shot in the leg, but he kept firing, kneeling down. Once the others were safe, it was just him and Soe Paing left. They were surrounded. Bo Thamani was captured, tortured, and then they executed him right there. Soe Paing was shot in the stomach, but he wasn't going to let them kill him. He shot himself in the head. When we recovered his body, he was still holding onto his gun.

Another story that sticks with me is about Yan Shin. He was a legend – did a lot of urban missions in the underground, taking out Pyu Saw Htee guys and corrupt officials who were harassing people. On his last mission, he stepped on a mine. Lost both his legs. Even then, bleeding out, he threw his phone away, hid his pistol, and waited for the SAC ambulance. They questioned him, tortured him, but he didn't give anything up. He wouldn't even unlock his phone for them. He died from blood loss. And the SAC? They went and executed his mother and two brothers and took his house. These are just a few of the stories, the really hard, traumatic stories, from our revolution.

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