Imprison Burma rebels? It’s a shadowy area (8)
I believe the answer is:
penumbra
'a shadowy area' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'imprison burma rebels?' is the wordplay.
'imprison' becomes 'pen' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'rebels?' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen 'rebels' mean this).
'burma' anagrammed gives 'umbra'.
'pen'+'umbra'='PENUMBRA'
'it's' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for penumbra that I've seen before include "Ring around sunspot" , "Shady area" , "Outer region of shadow" , "Area of half shade" , "Outer shadow round object" .)