CNI News
23 February 2025
Military and political analysts are questioning why the discussion between the Palung State Liberation Front (PSLF/TNLA) ended without any results.
The delegation led by the TNLA delegation led by Lieutenant General Tar Jock Ja and the Myanmar Tatmadaw delegation headed by Lieutenant General Ko Ko Oo discussed in Kunming, China on 16th and 17th February 2025.
Because there was a difficult situation in the bilateral negotiation, if preparations for the discussion had been made, peace talks would be held again, reported the TNLA on 19th February 2025. The discussion could not succeed because things desired by both sides had a wide gap, Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, a China-Myanmar affairs commentator, told CNI News.
" Things desired by both sides have a too wide gap. Both sides can't cannot accommodate. The TNLA can't retreat from the territories that it has captured. The military council is just trying to prolong. I think it's not easy to achieve success. The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) was able to give in to an extent because all its territories are next to China. China has influence on the MNDAA. But the TNLA's territories are far away from China." she said.
While seeing the TNLA
The TNLA demanded three points in the Kunming discussion and first, to cease fire after the forces from the two sides stop where they are, and second, the forces from the two sides must stop all the military activities including launching offensives and attacking by drones, air strikes and heavy weapons, and third, to allow the transportation of food and medicine inside the territories controlled by the two sides.
However, because the Myanmar Tatmadaw could not give in, the discussion ended without any agreements. Whether the discussion was successful or not depended on how much China would use its influence, U Kyi Myint, a political commentator, told CNI News.
"The TNLA also wants to establish military-based administrative operations in its liberated areas. So, it wants the military council to stop its offensives. But the government will have to hold the election. But former Thai PM, an advisor to the ASEAN Chairman, said that it would be difficult to recognize the election if it was held without being able to find an answer after negotiating with EAOs. So, the military council wants to get on well with EAOs. Both sides will try to win what they want in the second discussion as well. But the result won't depend on the both sides but on how much China will use its influence." he said.
At present the TNLA has captured Nansang, Mangtong, Kutkai, Thibaw, Mong Ngor, Namtu, Namkham, Monglong, Kyaukme, NawngHkio in northern Shan State and Mogok, Momeik and Mabein in Mandalay Region during Operation-1027.
