Myanmar Spring Chronicle – November 28 Overview
(MoeMaKa, November 29, 2024)
KIA Announces Dissolution of Kachin Special Region 1
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA), which recently seized control of Kachin Special Region 1 in eastern Kachin State, announced its dissolution on November 28.
The statement issued by KIA explained, “The Kachin Special Region 1 was demarcated and administered by previous military regimes to consolidate their power, which harmed the unity of the Kachin people.” It further declared that the designation of Kachin Special Region 1 no longer exists as of today. The KIA also invited residents and investors previously under the region’s administration to work collaboratively with the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) for mutual development.
Historical Context of Kachin Special Region 1
Historically, the region was under the control of the NDA-K, originally formed as the 101st Battalion of the Communist Party of Burma (CPB) before the CPB fractured in 1989. The NDA-K, led by Zahkung Ting Ying, became the first group in Kachin State to sign a ceasefire agreement with the military junta, leading to its designation as Special Region 1.
The NDA-K, based in Pangwah, controlled areas like Chipwi, Laiza, and Kanpaiti. However, recent clashes have led to the near-total loss of these territories to the KIA.
NDA-K’s Evolution and Economic Role
Following the CPB’s collapse in 1989, the NDA-K was reorganized as the New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K). By 2009, under pressure from the military regime’s 2008 Constitution, it was transformed into a Border Guard Force (BGF). For decades, the group leveraged its control over rare earth resources and other natural minerals in Kachin and neighboring regions to sustain its operations.
Post-2021 Coup Dynamics
After Myanmar’s 2021 military coup, the NDA-K, led by Zahkung Ting Ying, continued its allegiance to the junta, standing against the KIA and aligned PDFs (People’s Defense Forces). In June of this year, the NDA-K issued orders under the title “Pangwah Headquarters for Perpetual Peace in Kachin State Special Region 1,” calling for the suppression of KIA and PDF forces entering its territory.
However, within five months of this directive, KIA forces captured the entire territory under NDA-K control, marking a significant shift in the region’s power dynamics.
Conclusion
Although it is too early to declare the complete dissolution of the NDA-K, the group has lost nearly all its territories to the KIA. The military junta and remaining BGF forces appear unlikely to reclaim these areas anytime soon, solidifying the KIA’s control over the region.