CNI News

8 April 2024

Territorial ownership problems have arisen among the EAOs after the Myanmar Tatmadaw retreated from some townships in northern Shan State.

Ethnic groups concerned are keeping a close watch on how to solve the territorial ownership disputes. After Operation-1027 that was waged by the Three Brotherhood Alliance, territorial disputes have widely arisen and battles broke out among the EAOs.

Local people have become innocent victims because of territorial problems among the EAOs and it was necessary to negotiate and discuss, U Aik Lu, a Palaung politician, told CNI News.

While seeing the TNLA.force

" There are difficulties at the bottom because meetings have not been held to make a decision. As soon as there are problems among the armed groups, local people have become innocent victims. I don't think the problems will be forever. Recently, there were negotiations and discussions between them. For the time being, they have ceased fire. It's just a territorial problem." he said.

There were battles that broke out between the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP/SSA) and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) on 26th March, 2024 and the MNDAA attacked the SSPP over 50 times with drones, the SSPP stated. 

In the same way, battles broke out sometimes between the SSPP and the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF/TNLA); between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the TNLA; between the KIA and the MNDAA because of territorial disputes.

Territorial disputes must be solved by political discussion, U Kun Gawn Awng Kham, a Kachin politician, told CNI News. 

While seeing the KIA force

" It's a kind of problem that must be solved at the political round table after the war. It's unlikely to solve by weapon forever." he said.

During Operation-1027 launched on 27th October,2023 by the Three Brotherhood Alliance (AA,TNLA,MNDAA), they have captured many military camps of the Tatmadaw and the Tatmadaw lost control of Laukkai, Kon Kyan, Chin Shwe Haw, Phaungsai, Kunglong, Hopang, Pangwa, Theinni, Kutkai, Namkham, Nangsang, Mangtong, Namtu and Mong Ngor Townships.

After that, territorial disputes arose obviously among the SSPP, the MNDAA, the TNLA and the KIA. The SSPP, the TNLA the MNDAA, the KIA, the RCSS, the AA and militias including the Tatmadaw are active in northern Shan State.