{"id":5924,"date":"2025-05-02T00:56:48","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T18:26:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/?p=5924"},"modified":"2025-05-02T00:56:48","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T18:26:48","slug":"conflicts-of-interest-and-frictions-among-ethnic-armed-groups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/2025\/05\/conflicts-of-interest-and-frictions-among-ethnic-armed-groups\/","title":{"rendered":"Conflicts of Interest and Frictions Among Ethnic Armed Groups"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5925\" src=\"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"841\" height=\"631\" srcset=\"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-2.png 841w, https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-2-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-2-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-2-560x420.png 560w, https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-2-260x195.png 260w, https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-2-160x120.png 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 841px) 100vw, 841px\" \/><\/a><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>Conflicts of Interest and Frictions Among Ethnic Armed Groups<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><em>Myanmar Spring Chronicle \u2013 April 30 Overview<\/em><br \/><em>MoeMaKa, May 1, 2025<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Conflicting interests and tensions between <strong>ethnic armed organizations (EAOs)<\/strong> existed even before the February 2021 military coup. However, since the coup, the shifting dynamics of war and expanding territorial control have <strong>intensified rivalries<\/strong> and <strong>occasional clashes<\/strong> between some groups.<\/p>\n<p>Post-coup, we have seen <strong>positive developments<\/strong>, such as military coordination and mutual support among some EAOs. But <strong>intra-ethnic rivalries<\/strong>\u2014particularly where two armed groups claim to represent the same ethnic community\u2014have also resulted in <strong>conflict<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Examples:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p>Among the <strong>Pa-O<\/strong>, two factions\u2014the <strong>PNO\/PNLA<\/strong> and <strong>PNLO\/PNLA<\/strong>\u2014have had frequent clashes.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Among the <strong>Shan<\/strong>, the <strong>RCSS<\/strong> and <strong>SSPP<\/strong> have long been rivals, despite announcing non-aggression pacts post-coup. Occasional fighting still occurs.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>Sources of Conflict<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Among ethnically different EAOs, conflicts often arise over:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Territorial control<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Taxation rights<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Recruitment<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Natural resource extraction<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In <strong>late April<\/strong>, there were reports of <strong>8 military clashes<\/strong> and <strong>24 armed confrontations<\/strong> between the <strong>MNDAA<\/strong> and <strong>SSPP<\/strong> in northern Shan State, particularly around <strong>villages between Lashio and Hsipaw<\/strong>. These frictions occurred in areas where <strong>MNDAA had expanded during Operation 1027<\/strong>, while <strong>SSPP<\/strong> considers them part of their core territory.<\/p>\n<p>SSPP views areas like <strong>Hsipaw, Namkham, and Muse<\/strong> as under its traditional authority. Meanwhile, MNDAA, having captured the territory during 1027, now claims <strong>administrative and military control<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>Similar Frictions in Northern Shan<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Disputes between the <strong>KIA<\/strong> and <strong>TNLA<\/strong> also continue, particularly over <strong>checkpoints<\/strong> and <strong>control zones<\/strong> near <strong>Kutkai and Namphatka<\/strong>. Clashes over gate fees and access routes have occurred, and in one incident, <strong>TNLA forcibly relocated a KIA liaison office<\/strong> in Kutkai. Though both sides later held discussions, no clear outcome has been publicized.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>Other Intra-Ethnic Frictions<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Among the <strong>Chin<\/strong>, frictions have occurred between the <strong>Chin National Front (CNF)<\/strong> and the <strong>Chinland Council (CC)<\/strong>, both of which lead their own armed factions.<\/p>\n<p>Among the <strong>Karen<\/strong>, at least five armed groups are active. One collaborates with the junta, while the others operate independently. Occasional low-level skirmishes have been reported.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>The Need for Conflict Resolution Mechanisms<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Despite the existence of <strong>regional coalitions<\/strong>, there is currently <strong>no unified alliance<\/strong> encompassing all EAOs. Nor is there a well-established, trusted mechanism for <strong>resolving disputes peacefully<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Historically, such platforms existed:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><strong>The National Democratic Front (NDF\/\u1019\u1012\u1010)<\/strong>, founded in 1976, was one of the most notable multi-ethnic military alliances.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>At its height, NDF included up to <strong>12 ethnic armed groups<\/strong>, ranging from the <strong>KIA in the north<\/strong> to the <strong>KNU in the south<\/strong>, as well as <strong>Wa and Lahu<\/strong> in the east and <strong>Rakhine forces<\/strong> in the west. The then-powerful <strong>CPB (Communist Party of Burma)<\/strong> was notably absent.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>After 1988, alliances like the <strong>Democratic Alliance of Burma (DAB)<\/strong> emerged, followed by <strong>UNFC (United Nationalities Federal Council)<\/strong> and, later, <strong>FPNCC (Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee)<\/strong>, which remains active.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These platforms, even if limited in effectiveness, provided a <strong>venue to defuse internal tensions<\/strong> and <strong>coordinate politically and diplomatically<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>Where Things Stand Today<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><strong>FPNCC<\/strong> is still technically active, but its recent role is unclear. Some previous disputes between Shan-based groups were mediated through it, but there\u2019s <strong>no public indication<\/strong> it is currently being used to address the latest tensions.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>The <strong>post-2021 landscape is different<\/strong> from the 1980s and 1990s. In the past, EAOs focused more on <strong>survival and defense<\/strong>. Today, they see a <strong>real opportunity to expand and govern territory<\/strong>, as the junta\u2019s grip weakens.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As a result, some EAOs are <strong>prioritizing independent power building<\/strong> over collective unity. This trend suggests that <strong>building a new inclusive coalition may be harder than ever<\/strong>, as groups may be more interested in strengthening their own positions than forming a broader alliance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Conflicts of Interest and Frictions Among Ethnic Armed Groups Myanmar Spring Chronicle \u2013 April 30 OverviewMoeMaKa, May 1, 2025 Conflicting interests and tensions between ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) existed even before the February 2021 military coup. However, since the coup,&hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-p\"><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/2025\/05\/conflicts-of-interest-and-frictions-among-ethnic-armed-groups\/\">Read more &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5925,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[9,58],"tags":[100],"class_list":["post-5924","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current","category-features","tag-myanmar-spring-revolution"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-2.png","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3RDLm-1xy","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5924","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5924"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5924\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5926,"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5924\/revisions\/5926"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5924"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5924"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5924"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}