A large inventory of the main military factions in northern Myanmar

Mondo Finance Updated on 2024-02-07

The military entities of Shan State in northern Myanmar are divided into the Burmese ** Army and its vassal armies, the army established by the remnants of the former Burmese Communist Party, and the local armed forces of various ethnic groups. Among them, the army built by the remnants of the Communist Party of Burma is intertwined with the ethnic local armed forces (Mindi Wu).

Shan State has the Shan State Army South (SSA-S) and the Shan State Army North (SSA-N). In the 60s of the last century, among the four Shan (Dai) armed forces in Myanmar, the Shan National United Front and the Shan State Independence Army were merged into the Shan State Army, and many units in the northern part of the Shan State Army joined the Myanmar People's Army and formed an alliance with the Burmese Communist Party, and its army was later called the Northern Shan State Army; The remaining Shan State Army in the south merged with the Dai Revolutionary Committee, as well as the drug-trafficking armed Shan State United Army in Khun Sha, to form the Mong Thai Army, which became known as the Southern Shan State Army.

The Northern Shan State Army later reconciled with Burmese ** and accepted the reorganization, but its 1st Brigade still used the title of the Shan State Army and its political party, the Shan State Progressive Party. The Northern Shan Army often engaged in military clashes with the Burmese Army, as well as fighting with the Southern Shan State Army. Its main allies were the Wa coalition army and the De'ang army. At present, there are about 8,000 people in the Northern Shan State Army, and the South Shan State Army is equal in number to the North Shan State Army.

The military entity in the Kokang region is the Myanmar National Democratic Army (MNDA), commonly known as the Kokang Allied Army. The Kokang Alliance numbered about 10,000 people, and its founder, Peng Jiasheng, was the leader of the former Burmese ** team. This unit is good at engaging in vertical and horizontal tactics, is good at borrowing the strength of other armies for its own use, and of course is also good at extending a helping hand to the army in need at critical moments. The Kokang Allied Army not only received the help of the Arakan Army and the De'ang National Liberation Army, but also received the help of the Kachin Independence Army and the Wa Coalition Army.

The military entity in the Wa region is the United Wa State Army (UWSA), which is the largest military entity in northern Myanmar and controls the largest territory. The number is about 30,000, and the ruler Bao Youxiang is the leader of the former Burmese ** team. Wa State has its own military factories that are capable of manufacturing general *** as well as heavy *** such as howitzers and mortars. The Wa State is a truly independent kingdom, and on the surface, it keeps a certain distance from the Burmese army** and the local armed forces, and does not side with anyone. Although Wa State nominally belongs to Myanmar and receives financial support from Myanmar every year, it has its own independent military and political system, and the Myanmar Army cannot meddle in its military and political affairs at all.

The main military entities in Kachin State are: the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), which has about 20,000 troops; the Kachin Defense Army (KDA), numbering about 1,500 men; The Kachin New Democratic Army (NDAK), which numbered about 700 people. The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Kachin New Democratic Army (KNIA) have always been adversaries. Buoyed by the successive victories of the Kokang Allied Brotherhood Alliance, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has also been battling the Tatmadaw and has so far seized more than 30 bases and strongholds from the Tatmadaw army. The Kachin Independence Army's political demands are different from those of the Kokang Alliance, which wants to achieve a high degree of autonomy, while the Kachin Army wants its own independence** and has been fighting against the Tatmadaw for this.

The main military entity in the Xiaomengla area of the Fourth Special Administrative Region is the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) in eastern Shan State, also known as the Mengla Army, with about 3,600 regular troops and 2,000 militiamen. The founder is Lin Mingxian, also known as Wu Zailin, who is a former educated youth in Hainan, China, and was also the leader of the local army of the Communist Party of Burma, and the husband of Peng Xinchun, the daughter of Peng Jiasheng, the late leader of the Kokang Alliance, but at the same time he is friendly with Myanmar, and his regional flag has strong Burmese elements. The current commander-in-chief of the Mengla Army is Lin Daodao, also known as Wu Tenglin, the son of Lin Mingxian. The Mongla Army belongs to the centrist faction, and its principle is not to make enemies with the civilian forces and the Burmese army, and to adhere to the leadership of the Burmese army, but to enjoy a high degree of autonomy. However, the Mongla army also gave strong support to the Kokang Alliance.

Most of the military entities in these four regions are related to the Communist Party of Burma, and most of the regional leaders are former leaders of the Burmese ** team. However, the Kachin Independence Army has a very close relationship with the United States, because there were American missionaries in the early days of the Kachin area, and the local people generally believe in ** religion, and the phenomenon of learning English is also very common in the local area.

There is also a Ta'ang National Liberation Army (Ta) within Shan State'The Ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA), has no fixed territory, but has been at war with the Burmese Army and the Southern Shan State Army, and there is information that the Ta'ang National Liberation Army may be funded by the Kachin Independence Army and the Wa coalition forces. The De'ang people are also one of the ethnic minorities in China, and were once known as the Banglong people in history. The number of De'ang's army was about 5,000 people. Main activity areas: 1 Brigade: the western part of Gui Cheng District, Nankan Township District, and the southeast of Mujie Township District 2 Brigade: the eastern part of Mogok Township District (belonging to Mandalay Province), the western and northern Kyaukmei Township District, the 3 Brigade of Nanshan Township District: Mantong Township District, and the 5 Brigade in the southeast of Mengmi Township District: Guisu Township District.

In northern Burma's province of Sagaing, there is an army of more than 1,000 men under the leadership of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland Khaplang (NSCN-K).

Also participating in Operation 1027 is the Arakan Army (AA), which comes from Rakhine State. The Arakan Army is also known as the Arakan Army, because the location of the Rakhine State was called the Arakanese State in ancient times. The Arakan Army is well-trained and well-equipped and is the military wing of the ethnic minority movement in Rakhine State seeking autonomy. At the beginning of the establishment of the Arakan Army, there were only 26 people and 1 gun. Peng Jiasheng gave strong support to the Arakan Army and gave the Arakan Army 100 guns and 2 rocket launchers. In 2022, at Peng Jiasheng's funeral, the commander-in-chief of the Arakan Army, Thongmi Neng, recalled Peng Jiasheng's support for the Arakan Army, confirming this statement. In addition to strategic reasons, this is one of the reasons why the Arakan Army supports the Allied forces. Under Thongmi Neng's leadership, the Arakan Army grew rapidly and now has 100 battalions with more than 30,000 men. Heavy fighting between the Arakan army and the Tatmadaw in Rakhine State continues, and according to the latest data, the Arakan army has captured more than 200 bases and strongholds of the Tatmadaw army, as well as more than a dozen towns. Unconfirmed information claims that 70 per cent of Rakhine State has been occupied by the Arakan Army.

According to the current situation, various civilian forces, including the Burmese armed forces, and the People's Defence Forces of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, are fighting against the Tatmadaw in various places. Even Min Aung Hlaing's most loyal lackey, the biggest umbrella leader of Myawaddy Scam Park, and Su Chi Tu, who has 6,000 elite soldiers, also announced his departure from the Burmese army, despite repeated efforts by the Burmese army. And within the Tatmadaw army, Min Aung Hlaing's most loyal allies and supporters have also begun to turn back. Of course, they are not anti-water, but want Min Aung Hlaing to come to power with a more capable one. Of course, Min Aung Hlaing will not be himself**, and the situation in Myanmar will be even more stormy.

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