{"id":6605,"date":"2025-06-25T01:57:51","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T19:27:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/?p=6605"},"modified":"2025-06-25T01:57:54","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T19:27:54","slug":"inter-ethnic-armed-conflicts-and-shan-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/2025\/06\/inter-ethnic-armed-conflicts-and-shan-state\/","title":{"rendered":"Inter-ethnic Armed Conflicts and Shan State"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-10.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-6606\" src=\"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-10-1024x683.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"752\" height=\"502\" srcset=\"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-10-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-10-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-10-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-10-560x373.png 560w, https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-10-260x173.png 260w, https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-10-160x107.png 160w, https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-10.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Myanmar Spring Chronicle \u2013 June 23 View<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>(MoeMaKa, June 24, 2025):<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>Inter-ethnic Armed Conflicts and Shan State<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>In recent days, the Shan Herald Agency published a commentary article titled <strong>\u201cPartial Inter-ethnic Conflict Resolution in Shan State,\u201d<\/strong> written by political analyst <strong>Sai Wansai<\/strong>, which explores efforts toward resolving tensions among ethnic armed groups in Shan State.<\/p>\n<p>In his article, Sai Wansai highlights three key developments:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<p><strong>A dialogue between the Kokang armed group (MNDAA) and the Shan State Progress Party\/SSA (SSPP\/SSA)<\/strong> has led to a partial resolution of their conflict.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>A statement from a member of the <strong>Chin Brotherhood<\/strong>\u00a0mentions that <strong>territorial and ethnic rights disputes<\/strong> among allies will be postponed until after the military dictatorship is removed \u2014 with the expectation that political dialogue will follow.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>A recent <strong>graduation ceremony by the BPLA (Burma People\u2019s Liberation Army)<\/strong> saw cooperation among the <strong>NUG\/PDF<\/strong>, <strong>TNLA<\/strong>, and other local defense forces, suggesting signs of growing unity.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>Sources of Inter-ethnic Armed Conflict<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Conflicts between ethnic armed organizations often arise due to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Territorial control disputes<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Competing road checkpoints and taxation<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Revenue collection in towns and villages<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Forced recruitment or military conscription in disputed areas<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These issues are particularly common in <strong>Shan State<\/strong>, where multiple ethnic groups coexist. While such conflicts are not new, they have <strong>intensified since the 2021 military coup<\/strong>, as various armed groups expanded their territorial control by seizing areas previously held by the junta.<\/p>\n<p>As these armed groups gain power, <strong>friction over control, resources, and authority<\/strong> has escalated.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>Post-1027 Operation Landscape in Shan State<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>After the <strong>first and second waves of Operation 1027<\/strong>, the territorial map of Shan State shifted significantly. Even among groups that coordinated during the operation \u2014 particularly members of the <strong>Three Brotherhood Alliance<\/strong> \u2014 skirmishes have erupted at the lower levels.<\/p>\n<p>Notable recent clashes include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p>Between <strong>SSPP\/SSA and MNDAA<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Between <strong>KIA and TNLA<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Most recently, a new <strong>armed clash between TNLA and SSPP\/SSA<\/strong> occurred in <strong>Mongmit Township<\/strong> of northern Shan State.<\/p>\n<p>While Operation 1027 involved swift and coordinated attacks that successfully overran junta-held towns and regions, <strong>conflicts have since emerged over who gets to administer and control these areas<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>The Role of China and Changing Objectives<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The momentum of Operation 1027 was curtailed in part by <strong>China\u2019s diplomatic and economic pressure<\/strong>, especially in regard to <strong>trade routes<\/strong> and strategic infrastructure. MNDAA\u2019s decision to hand over <strong>Lashio<\/strong> to the junta was seen as a turning point.<\/p>\n<p>Now, the focus for many ethnic armed groups appears to be shifting:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p>From defeating the junta outright<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Toward consolidating control over territories that the junta can no longer reclaim<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The <strong>central question<\/strong> has become: <strong>Which group has the right to govern these contested territories?<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>Clashing Claims: Armed Might vs. Ethnic Representation<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Some believe that the group who fought and conquered an area by force has the right to govern it. Others argue that <strong>ethnic representation, population ratio, and historical residence<\/strong> should determine who governs.<\/p>\n<p>This has fueled a <strong>new phase of conflict<\/strong>, especially in Shan State \u2014 which makes up <strong>about a quarter of Myanmar\u2019s total land area<\/strong> and is home to at least <strong>a dozen ethnic groups<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>These include the <strong>Shan, Pa-O, Palaung, Wa, Kokang, Lahu, Lisu, Danu, Taungyoe, and Intha<\/strong>, among others. Several of these groups, such as the <strong>Shan, Pa-O, Wa, Kachin, and Kokang<\/strong>, have long-established armed organizations and controlled territories.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>Ethnic Sovereignty and the Future of Federal Democracy<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>For many ethnic groups, <strong>preserving cultural identity and regional autonomy<\/strong> is just as \u2014 or even more \u2014 important than the broader struggle for democracy. That\u2019s why <strong>the vision of a federal democratic union<\/strong> must address not only the defeat of the junta, but also the dangers of <strong>militarized ethnic nationalism<\/strong> and <strong>extreme identity politics<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The Spring Revolution of 2021 created new momentum and unity among diverse groups. But if this opportunity is not accompanied by <strong>restraint, accountability, and inclusive governance<\/strong>, the revolution risks collapsing into <strong>a new cycle of armed ethnic fragmentation<\/strong> \u2014 rather than building a genuine federal democratic union.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The recent commentary on inter-ethnic conflicts in Shan State highlights a dialogue between the MNDAA and SSPP\/SSA, a postponement of territorial disputes, and growing cooperation among local defense forces. However, tensions persist due to territorial disputes and the impact of the 2021 military coup, raising concerns over ethnic representation and governance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-p\"><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/2025\/06\/inter-ethnic-armed-conflicts-and-shan-state\/\">Read more &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6606,"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":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[9,58],"tags":[100],"class_list":["post-6605","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\/06\/image-10.png","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3RDLm-1Ix","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6605","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=6605"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6605\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6607,"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6605\/revisions\/6607"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6606"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6605"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6605"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}