Exploiting Ethnic Conflicts in Attempt to Consolidate Military Control Summary The Three Brotherhood Alliance (3BHA) which comprises of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Arakan Army (AA), and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) launched assaults on junta bases and outposts in northern Shan on 27 October 2023, under the Operation 1027. It was found that the military, known to regularly ferment ethnic and religious conflicts in the past, accelerated disseminating hate speech and propaganda after Operation 1027 had contracted its controlled territories. Specifically, the junta and pro-military Telegram channels which promote its actions have intensified their dissemination of hate speech and propaganda materials with the intention of amplifying ethno-religious tensions in northern Shan and Rakhine. As the 3BHA swiftly neutralized and captured territories in northern Shan, China was portrayed by pro-military telegram channels as being behind the Operation 1027. Moreover, the MNDAA’s attacks were depicted as an invasion by a Chinese ethnic group into the territory of Shan people. Following the commencement of Operation 1027, narratives claiming that foreign groups such as the Chinese and their ethnic groups, were invading Shan territories and oppressing the native Shan people gained prominence in the hate speech and propaganda spread by the junta. Moreover, the junta was also found to be actively generating hostility by exploiting the existing tensions among Ethnic Revolutionary Organizations (EROs), including the MNDAA, TNLA, Kachin Independence Army (KIA), and (Shan State Progress Party (SSPP)/ Shan State Army (SSA). The junta also engendered antagonism between ethnic groups when the AA resumed its assaults on the military, capturing towns in Chin and Rakhine. Subsequently, the junta fomented discord between the AA and Chin people in Paletwa as well as spread disinformation which can cause the deterioration of inter-Chin relations. Similarly, pro-military telegram channels exacerbated existing ethnic and religious tensions and conflicts by portraying differences between northern and southern Rakhine and exploiting tensions between the Arakanese and other ethnic groups, particularly the Rohingyas.In order to incite conflicts 6