Many monks in the Upper Region were killed. The military repeatedly issued statements claiming it was the PDFs who did it, even coining the phrase, “PDF kills monks.” It wasn’t until the abbot of Win Nimmita Monastery was shot and killed that people realized it was actually the military responsible for the killings. As a result, friction arose between nationalists and the military.

Later, the military began recruiting new soldiers from the Rohingya community. Inside the military itself, they tore down Dhamma halls and built mosques, and they allowed the widows of fallen soldiers to marry these newly recruited Rohingya troops. Because of this, many members of the Ma Ba Tha group distanced themselves from the military.

Only a few monks remain close to the military now, those who are staunchly loyal. The military pledged allegiance to the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) and, having also vowed to protect China’s interests, the long-term outcome remains uncertain.

A pilot once confided that, once airborne, there are many places they cannot bomb: They cannot bomb Rohingya areas for fear of angering the RSO, cannot bomb Chinese-owned properties for fear of angering China, and cannot go near KIA territory for fear of being shot down. In the end, they only bomb IDP camps and monasteries before returning.