Leading the ascent is Nay Myo Zin, a former army captain who, after 12 years in the military, defected to the resistance.With his dark green camouflage jacket draped over one shoulder, he has the air of a performer about to take the stage.

Just listen for five minutes, 10 minutes.” Somewhat surprisingly, the barrage stops.He tells them of the 4,000 soldiers who surrendered to the opposition in northern Shan State, and the recent insurgent drone attacks on military buildings in the country’s capital Nay Pyi Taw.

You have time today to decide whether to switch to the people’s side.”There’s silence from the military camp below.Nay Myo Zin urges them to abandon Min Aung Hlaing, the general in charge of the ruling junta.“All your lives will surely be spared.

Cut off from the resupply of men and food, they stand their ground, firm in their belief that it is the military’s right - its destiny - to rule the country.The ideological gulf between both sides is unbridgeable.The carrot and stick approach continues for another 30 minutes or so, before the resistance fighters withdraw.

The same youth who heard tales of failed revolutions and who have decided now is their time.After half a century of military rule, Myanmar enjoyed a brief experiment with democracy starting in 2015 under Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy.For many young people those years, though not without deep problems, marked an all-too-short golden age of freedom.

It meant armed revolutionaries’ ammunition was depleted - and they no longer were able mount an attack on the outpost.The day before we arrived, army war planes had bombed the hilltop overlooking Hpasang, killing three of the young fighters we had met earlier, and injuring 10.

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