Three years ago, Myanmar’s military, the Tatmadaw, overthrew the civilian government. Since then, numerous resistance groups and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) have risen, recently launching major offensives against the military regime. But who are these groups, and what drives their fight?
In October, an alliance of three major ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) called the Three Brotherhood Alliance (3BHA) launched the ongoing Operation 1027, intending to end oppressive rule by the military government. The alliance was founded in 2019, before the military coup of 2021.
Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA): The MNDAA, part of the 3BHA, is the armed wing of the Myanmar National Truth and Justice Party (MNTJP) representing the ethnic Han Chinese Kokang people, which it says it is fighting for autonomy.
The group has existed since 1989 after breaking away from the Communist Party of Burma (CPB) and is based in the Kokang region of northern Shan State on the border with China, with which it maintains close ties. Following a 20-year ceasefire with the Myanmar government, fighting broke out again in 2009. Earlier this month, the MNDAA was said to have taken back control of the entire Kokang region.
Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA): The TNLA was founded in 1992. The TNLA is the armed wing of the Palaung Self Liberation Front (PSLF), a political organization founded by fighters from the ethnic Ta’ang minority in northern Shan State. In December, the TNLA took control of the Pa Laung Self-Administered Zone, set up by the previous civilian government in 2011. The group says it is fighting for the self-determination of the Ta’ang people and “real federalism” in Myanmar.
Arakan Army (AA): Founded in Rakhine State in 2009, the AA, the armed wing of the United League of Arakan (ULA), is the largest group of the 3BHA with an estimated 30,000 troops. They say they are fighting to restore the sovereignty of the Arakanese people of Rakhine while being active in various regions across the country. The AA has also recruited troops from the Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic minority from Rakhine, who are the target of an ongoing genocide at the hands of the Myanmar military.
People’s Liberation Army (PLA): The PLA, the armed wing of the CPB, is one of several minor groups active in Operation 1027. After collapsing in 1989 along ethnic lines following a split that gave birth to various EAOs, the self-described communist force has been resurrected following the coup in 2021. They continue to fight in several states across the country alongside other groups.
Just weeks after the launch of Operation 1027, various EAOs of the Karenni people launched their own major offensive, codenamed Operation 1111, intending to capture Karenni State, the homeland of the Karenni people.
Karenni EAOs: The major Karenni EAO active in Operation 1111 is the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) which was founded following the coup in 2021, meant to be a fusion of all Karenni State’s dispersed youth forces. In addition to the KNDF, there are older groups that predate the coup such as the Karenni Army (KA) and the Karenni National People’s Liberation Front (KNPLF). The ideological outlook of the Karenni EAOs varies from right-wing nationalism to some being more left-leaning.
People’s Defence Force (PDF): Besides the EAOs, there is the PDF, the most significant resistance force operating in Myanmar. They are the armed wing of the National Unity Government (NUG), the parallel government representing the deposed civilian government. Set up right after the coup, the PDF is made up of several smaller groups that operate across the country with the ultimate aim of “restoring democracy and building a federal democratic union.” In some cases, the PDF has allied with various EAOs.
#Operation1027 #Operation1111 #MyanmarWar