In Myanmar jungle, civilians prepare to battle military rulers

Members of the People's Defence Force (PDF) stand at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 11, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

(Corrects this December 17 story to show in third paragraph that the pictures were obtained from a third party and not taken by Reuters)

(Reuters) - At a secret jungle camp in Myanmar's eastern Karen state, a fitness coach and other civilians are training with armed ethnic guerrillas to fight back against the country's military takeover.

Huddled under makeshift tents in remote hills near the Thai border, these new recruits learn how to load rifles and set detonators for homemade bombs as they prepare to battle the army behind the Feb. 1 coup.

A member of the People's Defence Force (PDF) holds a bag of bullet cases at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 12, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

Reuters has obtained rare footage of young men and women who said they left jobs in the city to become guerrilla fighters, swapping branded t-shirts and colourful dresses for army fatigues. The pictures and video were taken in September.

(To see a picture package of civilians training to fight Myanmar's military, please open in a web browser)

Members of the People's Defence Force (PDF) sit around a fire at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 12, 2021. In the evenings some of them sit around campfires playing guitars and violins, remnants of their past lives. REUTERS/Stringer

A spokesperson for Myanmar's military government did not respond to a request for comment about the group and other civil defence forces around the country.

Some recruits said they took up arms because mass demonstrations in the wake of the coup failed to deter their new rulers, who waged a violent crackdown on protests.

"Taking up arms is the only option for us," said a 34-year-old former fitness trainer, who did not want his name to be used.

Members of the People's Defence Force (PDF) inspect a target used for shooting practice at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 11, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

Tattooed across his back were the words "Freedom to Lead" and the face of Myanmar's ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, detained during the coup and convicted this month of incitement and breaching coronavirus restrictions.

The ruling drew international condemnation. The junta said it showed that no-one was above the law and that the judicial system "has no partiality".

Training the civilians is the Karen National Union, one of the country's largest ethnic armed groups who expressed solidarity with the protesters and allowed thousands to seek shelter in their territories.

A member of the People's Defence Force (PDF) cooks rice at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 12, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

The KNU did not respond to requests for comment.

Hundreds of similar resistance groups have popped up across the country in a loose coalition of anti-coup armed rebels calling themselves People's Defence Forces.

One training organiser, a former student activist, said there were more than 100 young civilians in his group training to fight, with new recruits arriving regularly. Reuters could not independently confirm this.

Sithu Maung, an elected member of parliament in the 2020 elections, sits under a mosquito net at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 13, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

In the evenings would-be fighters sit around campfires playing guitars and violins - remnants of past lives.

The former trainer, shorn of the ponytail he wore when he arrived at the camp, said he feared combat with a 300,000-strong military.

But, he added, fighting back was the only way.

Members of the People's Defence Force (PDF) hike at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 10, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

"I want to be proud of my death protecting my people."

(Writing by John Geddie; Editing by Mike Collett-White and Jon Boyle)

Members of the People's Defence Force (PDF) carry a fellow fighter who was injured at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 10, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

A member of the People's Defence Force (PDF) poses for a photo at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 9, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

Sithu Maung, an elected member of parliament in the 2020 election, aims a gun at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 12, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

Members of the People’s Defence Force (PDF) eat at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 11, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

A member of the People's Defence Force (PDF) plays the violin at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 8, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

Members of the People's Defence Force (PDF) prepare food at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 11, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

Members of the People's Defence Force (PDF) rest during a hike at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 10, 2021. Reuters spoke to young men and women who said they left jobs in the city to become guerrilla fighters, swapping branded t-shirts and colourful dresses for army fatigues. REUTERS/Stringer

Members of the People's Defence Force (PDF) exchange bullets at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 10, 2021. New recruits learn how to load rifles and set detonators for homemade bombs as they prepare to battle the army behind the February 1 coup. REUTERS/Stringer

Members of the People's Defence Force (PDF) are shown how to build military tools at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 9, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

Members of the People's Defence Force (PDF) look after a fellow fighter who was injured during training at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 10, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

A 34-year-old former fitness trainer and member of the People's Defence Force (PDF) shows off his back tattoo at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 13, 2021. Tattooed across his back are the words "Freedom to Lead" and the face of Myanmar's ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, detained during the coup and convicted this month of incitement and breaching coronavirus restrictions. REUTERS/Stringer

Members of the People's Defence Force (PDF) rest in hammocks at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 11, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

Sithu Maung, an elected member of parliament in the 2020 elections, washes his shoes in a river at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 10, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

Members of the People's Defence Force (PDF) gather at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 9, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

A 34-year-old former fitness trainer and member of the People's Defence Force (PDF) gets a military-style haircut at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 11, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

Members of the People's Defence Force (PDF) hike at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 10, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

A member of the People's Defence Force (PDF) poses for a photo at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 10, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

Members of the People's Defence Force (PDF) cross a muddy path at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 10, 2021. Life in the resistance can be tough. Days are spent under the hot sun on the firing range, or trekking through thick, rain-soaked jungle carrying heavy packs of provisions and weapons. REUTERS/Stringer

A member of the People's Defence Force (PDF) rests during a hike at a training camp in an area controlled by ethnic Karen rebels, Karen State, Myanmar, September 12, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer