Rare praise for the army

Since February 9, Tatmadaw has been engaged in fighting with rebels in Kokang Self-Administered Zone which attempted to seize Laukkai and other nearby townships. 

State media reported that as of Thursday, Tatmadaw continued combing Lauukai area, forcing insurgents to hide in jungles and mountains. The army still suffered from some ambushes. Skirmishes broke out in villages. During the skirmishes, the mitary seized a body of insurgents, one M22, 5 Chinese grenades, 286 bullets and 13 MNDAA uniforms. Four army officers and other ranks lost lives and three others were injured. 

It also reported that some 1,314 people from 389 households have resettled in Laukkai between February 22-24 as stability is somewhat restored. 

During its 49-year rule, the military became notorious for abuses in ethnic minority areas in the hills and for crushing calls for democracy in towns and cities. Various ethnic minority rebel groups have battled the government in Myanmar since its independence in 1948. In this fight, it involves ethnic Chinese rebels called the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA). 

A semi-civilian reformist government came to power in 2011 but the military retains an effective veto over politics. Rights groups have documented abuses including rape and torture in areas where the military is fighting insurgents.

But since the latest clashes began, suspicion of the army has given way to approval, especially on social media platforms such as Facebook where many people have changed profile pictures to symbols of the military, or Tatmadaw as it is known.

The clashes over the Kokang region have stirred traditional suspicion of Myanmar's giant neighbour to the north.

"This is the duty of the Tatmadaw - everybody says this in our country. I also agree on this," Zagana, a comedian and actor who was locked up for dissent during military rule, told Reuters.

But he said he was not pro-military and called for the army to negotiate an end to the fighting.

The military has responded to its approval with more openness. State-run media carries daily updates and reporters have been invited to rare briefings.

"In the case of Kokang, the Tatmadaw is seen as playing its role as the guardian of the union and Myanmar's national sovereignty," said Yun Sun, an analyst with the Washington-based Stimson Centre.

"This role is not entirely clear in other conflicts," she said, referring to clashes in other parts of the country with ethnic minority forces, where the military is often perceived to be fighting for its own interests.