CNI Article

By- Chit Min Tun

22 May 2025

Myanmar has been wasting its time with wars and has not been able to get on the path of development for many years. Views are divided on whether the country we are living in is the First Myanmar or the Fourth Myanmar, and talks on ending the internal armed conflict have failed.

The Myanmar Tatmadaw, including powerful ethnic Bamar political parties and groups, now considers Myanmar to be a fourth country because they have considered that Anawrahta (founder of the First Myanmar), Bayintnaung (founder of the Second Myanmar), and Alaungpaya (founder of the Third Myanmar) established the First, Second, and Third Myanmars, and that today's Myanmar, which gained independence from the British on January 4, 1948, is the fourth country.

The non-Bamar ethnic groups, along with Anawrahta, Bayintnaung, and Alaungpaya, also had their own kingdoms under a monarchy. 

In 1885, all the territories of the various ethnic groups fell under the British rule, and on January 4, 1948, they gained independence and established today Myanmar, thus they have considered today Myanmar as the first Myanmar because they have considered Myanmar to be the result of the union of independent states, including the agreement to unify the mountains and the mainland, which resulted in the independence of Myanmar.

Buildings damaged during armed conflict are seen (Photo: Reuters)

Then, due to the lack of ethnic equality, weak power sharing, weak resource sharing, the collapse of democracy, strong centralization, the emergence of the Great Bamar Chauvinism, and the division of ideology, internal armed conflicts broke out just a few months after independence on January 4, 1948, and have lasted for more than 70 years as of today (2025). 

Before independence, due to the feudal system, kings waged wars and expanded their territories, so they spent their time on wars among ethnic groups. After independence, ethnic groups did not unite, but wars continued to waste time.

Therefore, the people of Myanmar only had the opportunity to experience democracy for three periods: from 1948 to 1958, from 2011 to 2015, and from 2015 to 2020. 

The rest of the time, they have been surviving in wars. Looking at the current situation, on February 1, 2021, the Myanmar military overthrew the NLD government, claiming that it was attempting to form a government without resolving the voter list dispute in the 2020 general election and declared a state of emergency and is ruling the country.

While seeing an armed person (Photo: AP)

Then, with the gradual erosion of freedoms and the expansion of the military framework, democracy was disappearing. Therefore, efforts to restore democracy split into two groups. One group was trying to hold elections, remove the military rule, and restore democracy. 

Another group is trying to overthrow the military government and restore democracy through armed resistance. 

While there are such differences, some say they are fighting to protect democracy, while others say they are fighting because democracy has been lost.

Between these two situations, the people are experiencing a general decline in social, economic, educational, health, and freedom crises, with many people becoming homeless and some losing their families.

Some warlords have their own territories, while others are trying to gain their own territories. Some warlords are trying to control power. States create wars, and wars create states; Francis Fukuyama once said.

In Myanmar, wars create hatred, and hatred creates to make the country collapse.

Eventually, Myanmar society is slowly deteriorating and facing obstacles to democratic transition and the establishment of a federal union. 

Lee Yuan-yew, the founder of Singapore, once said in 1962 that “those with cameras are more valuable defenders of democracy than those with guns.”

While seeing a Myanmar national flag

In Myanmar, those who hold guns in the name of democracy, claiming to be defending peace, federalism, and democracy, are discussing at a round table while those who hold pens/cameras without even holding a needle are accused of being those who are making the country collapse. 

Myanmar is currently a country with a broader military framework and narrower political framework, ruled by warlords under the name of democracy. In order to break away from the state ruled by warlords under the guise of democracy and establish a union system based on democracy and federalism, the people need to be united and able to choose the right positions.

Otherwise, Myanmar could become a failed state, whether it is the fourth country or the first country because Myanmar's neighbors and visitors from far away are trying to divide Myanmar into pieces like a cake. 

Therefore, it is necessary to rebuild the country from a state ruled by warlords under the guise of democracy, through the power of internal unity. In any case, it remains to be seen how Myanmar's future democracy and federalism will develop.

"When one door closes, another one opens but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the ones which open for us" said Alexander Graham Bell.

CNI News

22 May 2025

During the ongoing reconstruction work after the powerful earthquake in Myanmar, cement, a key requirement, is not available due to too high demand, construction entrepreneurs told CNI News. 

Some construction material stores only sell cement if you buy other building materials together, a construction entrepreneur told CNI News.

" Cement is not hard to buy. It can't be bought. All cement-related businesses have been delayed. Some shops sell a bag of cement for 40,000 kyats in the market, while others sell it for 35,000 kyats. We buy it on the black market as it is convenient. Before the earthquake, it was around 17,000, 18,000 kyats. You can buy about 20 bags of cement if you buy other construction materials together," he said.

While seeing a building that has collapsed due to the earthquake

Currently, cement is reportedly difficult to purchase in earthquake-hit Mandalay and Sagaing. The SAC is taking action against 62 construction material stores that raised cement prices in the market last April, in accordance with existing laws. 

Cement is essential not only for reconstruction in earthquake-affected areas but also for patching up homes and buildings that have suffered minor cracks.

Currently, only cement is in high demand, while other building materials are operating normally, U Maung Maung, chairman of Shwe Gabar Maung Maung construction business, told CNI News.

"This happens when demand is high and sales are low. When there are many cracks in buildings here and there. The number of people using cement is increasing. This is especially true in Mandalay, Sagaing and Nay Pyi Taw, where demand is high. Some people buy and use as much as they need at market prices. What should we do then?

While seeing a truck carrying cement

In fact, the price of cement is not normal. They are calculating it in dollar price. At present, in our view, only cement is in very high demand. The rest of the construction materials are circulating normally," he said.

Nine cement factories in Myanmar were producing 30,700 tonnes (614,000 bags) per day before the earthquake. 

However, after the earthquake, six factories were producing 17,100 tons (342,000 bags) of cement per day, and production was increased to 22,100 tons (442,000 bags) on May 15, said the Union Minister for Industry.

He also said that the price of a bag of cement has been set at 17,000 kyats per bag for sale by relevant factories to earthquake-affected buildings.

CNI News

21 May 2025

The ongoing political conflict in Myanmar should be resolved through elections rather than through weapons, U Sai Htay Aung, chairman of the Tai Leng (Shanni) Nationalities Development Party, told CNI News.

On February 1, 2021, the Myanmar Tatmadaw ousted the NLD government, accusing it of attempting to form a government without resolving the 2020 general election voter list dispute, and declared a state of emergency and is ruling the country.

Then, NLD leaders, parliamentarians, activists, armed groups, and some political parties  started waging battles to overthrow the Myanmar military and the SAC, and battles are taking place across Myanmar. 

Resolving the conflict through weapons has caused a lot of damage to the lives and property of the people, and therefore the people are focusing on resolving it with the election, U Sai Htay Aung, chairman of the Tai Leng (Shanni) Nationalities Development Party, told CNI News.

Political parties

"After the election, the SAC will hand over power to the winning party because it is talking about holding on to the 2008 constitution. The reason it did not hand over power to the winning party in 1990 is that there was no constitution. The 1974 constitution was also destroyed in the  8888 uprising. So, should we draft a new constitution or should we use the old one? If we use the old one, should we use the 1947 constitution or the 1974 constitution? There may be a dispute. When we make a decision to draft a new constitution, we can be deceived again by them because they can say that holding elections is to draft a constitution. The SAC said that it has kept the power in accordance with the 2008 constitution. But this is nothing short of a coup. It repeatedly has said that it will carry out in accordance with the 2008 constitution. And China that is important to Myanmar politics has said since the beginning that it will help Myanmar. So,  according to the 2008 constitution, the SAC will hand over power to the winning party." he said.

The SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has said that in Myanmar, elections will be held in December 2025 and January 2026, and that power will be transferred to the winning party. 

The Union Election Commission (UEC) told CNI News that there are currently 54 political parties registered to run the elections to be held by the SAC, of which 9 will contest nationwide and 45 will contest in a region or state.

On the other hand, the NUG, PDF, and some ethnic armed organizations have announced that they will completely destroy the elections to be held by the SAC.

CNI News

21 May 2025

The decision to hold the election can be made by the National Defense and Security Council (NDSC), said the SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. He made the remarks at the SAC work coordination meeting held on May 19, 2025.

The SAC Chairman said that since the SAC took over the state in accordance with the 2008 Constitution, it is imperative to build a multi-party democracy that the people want, and therefore, the SAC must hold elections in accordance with its original intention.

" It would be best if elections could be held nationwide. However, the multi-party democratic general elections of 2010, 2015, and 2020 could not be fully held, and elections were held amidst difficulties during The Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League (AFPFL) era. The election needs to be a fair and successful election," he said.

And then, pieces regarding a quorum to convene the Hluttaw were written in sections 85, 128, and 155 of the constitution. According to these sections of the constitution, elections could be held with a quorum, said the SAC Chairman.

“The constitution stipulates that holding elections and carrying out the country's affairs through an elected government is the best for the country and that the National Defense and Security Council can decide to hold elections,” he said.

The SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has said that the elections will be held in December 2025 and January 2026.

The Union Election Commission (UEC) also told CNI that the election date has been set and will be announced when it was closer to the date. 

Military and political observers said that the SAC's six-month extension of the state of emergency will expire on July 31, 2025, and the NDSC meeting could be held on that day and the exact date for the election could be announced. 

Political parties are predicting that the SAC could hold elections on December 14, 2025.

On the other hand, the National Unity Government (NUG), the People's Defense Forces (PDF), and some ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) have declared that they will completely disrupt the elections that will be held by the SAC.

Political parties are worried that people will not vote in the election.

CNI Articles

By- Chit Min Tun

19 May 2025

There are over 190 countries in the world, some hold elections and some do not. Similarly, there are countries with political parties and some do not. 
For example, countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Brunei do not hold elections and do not have political parties.

However, most countries have elections and political parties. So in countries that have elections, what kind of conditions do their citizens analyze before they vote? After studying how they vote, in Myanmar, too, a voter should consider what fundamental reasons they should vote for.

While the SAC is preparing to hold elections in Myanmar in December 2025 and January 2026, on the other hand, armed opposition groups are preparing to prevent the elections from being held. Myanmar citizens are caught between two situations: whether to support holding elections or whether to support blocking elections.

Therefore, rather than discussing whether or not an election will take place, I would like to focus on the factors that a voter should consider and decide if an election were to be held in a country.

Party policies and objectives
******************************
 It is necessary to carefully study the policies of the parties on health, education, economy, social affairs, foreign affairs, democracy, federal affairs, peace, youth affairs, etc. It is also necessary to study whether they have such policies.

You should also consider whether these policies are consistent with your beliefs and values.

You should also examine whether the party's goals are realistic and beneficial to the country.

The party's capabilities and experience
****************************************

 If the party had been in government before, we must study what kind of performance it had shown, how it had treated the public, whether it had been able to develop the country, whether the citizens had become poor and they had become rich, etc. We must also study and consider these situations.

Then, we must consider whether the party's leadership and members are qualified (meaning both politically and practically) and capable of working effectively for the country.

Similarly, whether the party's organizational structure and operations are stable and effective must be considered.

Candidate's qualifications and character
*****************************************

 It is necessary to study the educational qualifications, work experience, political knowledge, and social activities of the candidate running in your constituency.

We must consider whether the candidate is a person of good character and morals who can represent the people. We must consider whether he or she is capable of doing one thing during the campaign and another thing when he or she becomes an MP.

Then, it is necessary to analyze and examine whether the candidate's speech and actions are credible.

If the election is held using the party list system, voters will no longer have the opportunity to know the candidate and will only have to vote for the party. Therefore, they should consider whether the party is a party with factional politics or patron-clientelism before choosing whether to vote or not.

Similarly, we need to consider whether it is a party that is increasingly centralized or a party that allows candidates to freely serve the public interest. Furthermore, when party interests and public interests clash, we need to look at whether the party is protecting party interests or the party is protecting the public interest.

Those who provide funds for the party and Party funding
**********************************************************

 You should consider whether to vote or not by knowing who supports the party, who controls it behind the scenes, who it works for, and how its funds are managed.

It is necessary to check whether the party's funding is transparent. It should not be forgotten that some people use the party to seek personal gain and use their influence unscrupulously to obtain funds.

Then, one should consider whether the interests of the party's supporters and the forces behind it have an influence on the party's policies.

Information acquisition and critical thinking skills
**************************************************

 Information about parties and candidates can be obtained from official sources and impartial news outlets.

Then, during the campaign, it is necessary to listen carefully to their statements and use the information they provide to make decisions using common sense and reason.

It is also necessary to monitor the activities and statements of parties and candidates on social media (Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Telegram, Instagram).

Your interests and the future of the country
********************************************

 One should decide whether to vote for a party only after considering their personal interests as well as whether it can contribute to the long-term development and future of the country.

Furthermore, we must consider which party's policies are best for the country.

The party that the people of Myanmar currently need is (1) a party that can stop the civil war, (2) a party that can bring about internal peace, (3) a party that can help reverse the economic downturn, (4) a party that can strengthen the democratic system, (5) a party that can lead the construction of a federal union, (6) a party that can restore the disintegration of national unity, and a party that can bring the education system up to international standards. 
In addition, (7) a party that can achieve equality for citizens, (8) a party that can protect the people from troubles caused by those in power, (9) a party that can bring health services up to international standards, (10) a party that can create job opportunities for the youth, (11) a party that can keep up with modern technology, (12) a party that is willing to empower the youth, (13) a party that can reform the highly centralized government system, (14) A party that can change to become a government that is free from corruption and can provide smooth public services; (15) A party that can properly correct the legal system that is based on money; and (16) A party that has a high understanding of media relations and media freedom.

Therefore, voters need to make sure their votes are the right choice. If they make the wrong choice, they will have to survive within the system that has not been reformed.

The government you choose will be born from the votes you cast. Therefore, you need to have a wealth of political knowledge. We need the right voters to get rid of the parties and parliamentarians who are in power and corrupt that do not protect the interests of the country and the people.

Only then will Myanmar be able to stand as a clean country and become a socio-economically prosperous country. Whether that situation will be reached or not will only depend on the decision of the voters.

CNI News

19 May 2025

If a post-election government emerged in Myanmar, there are questions about how it would stabilize the political instability that is taking place in the country.

The government that will emerge after the election will have three major responsibilities: 
reconstruction after the earthquake that hit Myanmar, work to achieve internal peace, and building a new and developed country, Dr. Aye Maung, chairman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP), told CNI News.

Dr. Aye Maung, chairman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP), told CNI that the government that will emerge after the election will have three major responsibilities: reconstruction after the earthquake that hit Myanmar, work to achieve internal peace, and building a new and developed country.

These three responsibilities can only be carried out well if there is political stability. Therefore, the government that will come to power should not ignore what the previous governments did but rather work together to form a strong government, he said.

While political parties were meeting

" A post-election government has a huge responsibility. The first thing is to establish political trust among ourselves, starting from ceasing iour civil war. Currently, we must fully implement the reconstruction sector for the damage caused by the Mandalay earthquake, and then we must implement the internal peace from which we must establish a new developed country. Since there are three such three major responsibilities, the government that will emerge after the election will have a great task. Everyone will define it the same way,
I think. So the only way to carry out these three major tasks is political stability. In order to do this, the next government will have a major task force that will be able to firmly connect the current SAC's 5-year term, the NLD's 5-year term and the USDP's 5-year term before that. The next government shouldn't completely abolish everything that was done in the past by previous governments. We must collectively form a strong government. That government must lead to stabilize the country." said Dr. Aye Maung.

The SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has said that elections will be held in Myanmar between December 2025 and January 2026. 

The post-election government must resolve the armed conflict, and it must also focus on international relations, as some powerful countries are also involved in Myanmar's internal affairs, People's Pioneer Party (PPP) General Secretary U Myo Set Thway told CNI News.

The KIA-PDF joint force

"The post-election government must resolve the armed conflict issues. So if we look at the sources of these conflicts, there are historical events, natural resource sharing issues, and political positions. In addition, it is important to be aware of the involvement of some powerful countries. Therefore, it will be very difficult to build a nation without addressing these issues, so we will have to pay close attention to international relations. If you really think about it, all the local armed groups cannot survive without receiving support from somewhere. Where does these supports come from? It's clear when you think about it. All of this is related to international affairs. Policies and political views can be adjusted at the table, but what cannot be adjusted are the supporting forces. These problems must be resolved diplomatically." he said.

The earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025, killed more than 4,000 people and injured more than 5,000, damaging homes, schools, religious buildings, hospitals/clinics, and roads and bridges. 

In addition, battles between the Myanmar military and ethnic armed groups/the People's Defense Forces (PDF) are ongoing across Myanmar, and the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) is increasing.

Therefore, military and political analysts point out that the post-election government must ensure political stability in order to carry out reconstruction efforts, internal peace, and resolve armed conflicts.

CNI Interview

19 May 2025 

SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has said that elections will be held in December 2025 and January 2026. On the other hand, political parties are facing difficulties in opening offices due to the widespread armed conflict. 

CNI News contacted and questioned the Union Election Commission (UEC) regarding these circumstances.

Q. I would like to know if the exact date for the election has been set.

A: The Union Election Commission (UEC) has set a date for the election and will announce it in due course.

Q. The SAC chairman has said that the election will be held in December. I would like to know whether he will announce when the political parties can start their campaigning period.

A: After the election date is announced, the campaign period will be announced after the list of candidates for Hluttaw has been verified.

Q. Since Section 5(h) stipulates that a party competing nationwide must open offices in half of all townships (more than 100 townships) nationwide, I would like to know which of the parties currently that will compete nationwide have been able to open offices as per the law, and which parties have not yet been able to open offices?

While seeing political parties

A: Out of the 9 parties that will organize nationwide, 3 parties has been able to open a specified number of offices, and 6 parties must be able to open the specified number of offices at least 90 days before the election date in accordance with the political parties registration law by the date announced by the Commission in a notification.

Q. . Section 5(h) stipulates that a party contesting within a region or state must open party offices in 5 townships of that region or state. So, I would like to know which parties have been able to open offices as per the provisions of the law, and which parties have not yet been able to open offices.

A: Out of the 45 parties that will organize only within a region or state, 19 parties have been able to open a specified number of offices, and 26 parties must be able to open the specified number of offices at least 90 days before the election date, as stipulated in the Political Parties Registration Law, and within the date announced by the Commission in a notification.

Q. Out of the 7 townships in Kayah State, only 1 or 2 townships are under the control of the government and the rest are not yet governed. Therefore, a party that will contest in Kayah State is facing difficulties in opening offices in five townships. There are similar difficulties in Rakhine and Chin States. So, how is the UEC going to ease this situation?

A: Regarding the opening of party offices in regions and states with limited geographical conditions, we have reviewed the submissions of the relevant parties and temporarily allowed them to open party offices in townships with good security.

Q. If the UEC does not ease a difficult situation, will the parties that are only competing in states such as Kayah, Chin, and Rakhine states no longer be allowed to compete in the elections held by the SAC? Can the parties be considered dissolved?

A: The Union Election Commission has given the parties some relaxation of the rules.

CNI News
17 May 2025

In the current context of the Burmese revolution, questions have been raised about why the Myanmar Tatmadaw and other armed groups, including the Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs), want to seize Sagaing Region.
Sagaing Region is the largest of the seven regions and is surrounded by Magway Region, Mandalay Region, Shan State, Kachin State, India, and Chin State.

Since Myanmar gained independence, most politicians have been in Sagaing Region and that both sides want the region because jewels can be extracted there, Sai Htay Aung, chairman of the Tai Leng (Shanni) Nationalities Development Party (TNDP), told CNI News.

" The reason why they want to take Sagaing Region is because jewels including metals, gold, and uranium that are used in producing nuclear energy can be extracted there in Sagaing Region. It is designated as a Gold Region under the SLORC and the SPDC. In addition, initially, irrigated agriculture did not exist in Sagaing Region, but it became quite successful during the SLORC era,” he said.

The political forces and armed groups that participated in the Spring Revolution have formed the Sagaing Forum to bring about the end of authoritarianism, the right to self-determination and self-administration, and the emergence of a federal system.

The KIA/PDF joint force

There are political activities like the Sagaing Forum and that ethnic groups are not prioritizing Sagaing Region, but are carrying out military operations to protect their regions, the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO-NCA/S) Chairman Colonel Khun Okkar told CNI News.

"Kachin EAO can conduct military operations in Sagaing Region and reduce military attacks in Kachin State. In the same way, the Chin and Rakhine armed groups can do the same. So, Sagaing Region is not a priority for various ethnic groups. However, they can take part in military activities. "However, there are still some tasks that Sagaing itself needs to do. Some have acknowledged the Sagaing Forums and discussions took place. So, they are Sagaing Forum and the political model. In some way, it is the Sagaing constitution," he said.

Sagaing Region is known to have natural resources such as gas, oil, precious stone, gold, copper, timber, white gold, chromite, platinum, coal, iron, and rare earth metals. 
The central government does not have full direct authority over Sagaing Region, but it is within Myanmar's borders and is already under the central government's jurisdiction under the constitution, U Thein Tun Oo, director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, told CNI News.

The BPLA

"Although the central government does not have full power in Sagaing Region, it is still within the borders of Myanmar. In other words, Sagaing Region is under the current 2008 Constitution of Myanmar. So, according to the constitution, Sagaing Region is under the central government's jurisdiction." he said.

Within Sagaing Region, there are the NSCN (at least 6 Naga armed groups), the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA), the Meitei People's Army (MPA), the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Arakan Army (AA), the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF), and the Karen National Union (KNU).

In addition, there are the Chin National Front (CNF), Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA/ZRO), Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B), People's Defense Forces (PDFs) under NUG,
Burma National Revolutionary Army (BNRA), People's Liberation Army (PLA-Communist), 96 Soldiers (led by Ko Zeyar Lwin), CNDF (Chin ethnic group), Local Defense Forces (LPDFs), etc.
In the same way, there are militia forces and Pyu Saw Htee forces (Pa Sa Hta) under the Myanmar Tatmadaw in the region as well.

CNI News
17 May 2025

In the current context of the Burmese revolution, questions have been raised about why the Myanmar Tatmadaw and other armed groups, including the Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs), want to seize Sagaing Region.
Sagaing Region is the largest of the seven regions and is surrounded by Magway Region, Mandalay Region, Shan State, Kachin State, India, and Chin State.

Since Myanmar gained independence, most politicians have been in Sagaing Region and that both sides want the region because jewels can be extracted there, Sai Htay Aung, chairman of the Tai Leng (Shanni) Nationalities Development Party (TNDP), told CNI News.

" The reason why they want to take Sagaing Region is because jewels including metals, gold, and uranium that are used in producing nuclear energy can be extracted there in Sagaing Region. It is designated as a Gold Region under the SLORC and the SPDC. In addition, initially, irrigated agriculture did not exist in Sagaing Region, but it became quite successful during the SLORC era,” he said.

The political forces and armed groups that participated in the Spring Revolution have formed the Sagaing Forum to bring about the end of authoritarianism, the right to self-determination and self-administration, and the emergence of a federal system.

The KIA/PDF joint force

There are political activities like the Sagaing Forum and that ethnic groups are not prioritizing Sagaing Region, but are carrying out military operations to protect their regions, the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO-NCA/S) Chairman Colonel Khun Okkar told CNI News.

"Kachin EAO can conduct military operations in Sagaing Region and reduce military attacks in Kachin State. In the same way, the Chin and Rakhine armed groups can do the same. So, Sagaing Region is not a priority for various ethnic groups. However, they can take part in military activities. "However, there are still some tasks that Sagaing itself needs to do. Some have acknowledged the Sagaing Forums and discussions took place. So, they are Sagaing Forum and the political model. In some way, it is the Sagaing constitution," he said.

Sagaing Region is known to have natural resources such as gas, oil, precious stone, gold, copper, timber, white gold, chromite, platinum, coal, iron, and rare earth metals. 
The central government does not have full direct authority over Sagaing Region, but it is within Myanmar's borders and is already under the central government's jurisdiction under the constitution, U Thein Tun Oo, director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, told CNI News.

The BPLA

"Although the central government does not have full power in Sagaing Region, it is still within the borders of Myanmar. In other words, Sagaing Region is under the current 2008 Constitution of Myanmar. So, according to the constitution, Sagaing Region is under the central government's jurisdiction." he said.

Within Sagaing Region, there are the NSCN (at least 6 Naga armed groups), the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA), the Meitei People's Army (MPA), the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Arakan Army (AA), the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF), and the Karen National Union (KNU).

In addition, there are the Chin National Front (CNF), Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA/ZRO), Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B), People's Defense Forces (PDFs) under NUG,
Burma National Revolutionary Army (BNRA), People's Liberation Army (PLA-Communist), 96 Soldiers (led by Ko Zeyar Lwin), CNDF (Chin ethnic group), Local Defense Forces (LPDFs), etc.
In the same way, there are militia forces and Pyu Saw Htee forces (Pa Sa Hta) under the Myanmar Tatmadaw in the region as well.