CNI News
30 April 2025
The Ta’ang National Liberation Organization (TNLA) will have to consider whether to negotiate or continue fighting in the current situation, Pa-O National Liberation Army (PNLO-NCA/S) Chairman Colonel Khun Okkar told CNI News.
Fierce battles are taking place between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the TNLA in the Taung Kham area of Naung Cho Township, northern Shan State. However, the TNLA's ally, the Kokang National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), was forced to withdraw from Lashio after China pressured it into a ceasefire and handed over Lashio to the Myanmar Tatmadaw.
Chairman Colonel Khun Okkar told CNI News that if the TNLA wants political rights, now is the best time to negotiate.
While seeing the TNLA force
"I think the TNLA will need to negotiate, whether to fight or negotiate. They will invite to negotiate, I think because China will need to intervene and negotiate. One of the Lashio Agreement is that UWSP/UWSA must take responsibility regarding the TNLA. It is believed that negotiations will be possible through the UWSA. I heard that the UWSA will take responsibility to negotiate and control the TNLA. China is behind the UWSA. I think the TNLA has been given a little time to think about whether they will negotiate or not. So the fighting is likely to continue. Now is the best time to discuss and negotiate the political rights that the TNLA wants, whether the TNLA wants a state or an autonomous region." he said.
Military and political analysts point out that China is trying to end armed conflicts on the one hand, while on the other hand, negotiating political rights for the armed groups.
Due to Chinese intervention, the Kokang National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) handed over Lashio city that it occupied on August 3, 2024, to the Myanmar Tatmadaw, which in turn the MNDAA took over the Kokang Special Region (1).
While seeing Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing
The Myanmar Tatmadaw and the TNLA met in China in the third week of January 2025, but the talks ended without reaching an agreement. The two sides then agreed to discuss it again, but to this day, they have not met.
U Htet Aung Kyaw, vice chairman of the National Democratic Force Party (NDF), told CNI News that if negotiations are held openly and without preconditions, a certain situation will emerge.
"Why are they currently engaged in armed conflict? If they want to establish a separate Palaung state, continue to fight for it. However, they want self-rule.They want to negotiate the extent of self-rule they want, so they are using this military method to increase our bargaining power. For that, it should be a situation where they can negotiate. They should talk about how much autonomy they want. I think if they can negotiate openly without any preconditions, they can see something." said U Htet Aung Kyaw.
The TNLA currently has controlled Namkham, Nansang, Mantong, Namtu, Mong Ngor, Kyaukme, Nawng Cho, Kutkai, Thibaw, Momeik, and Mabein in northern Shan State, and Mogok in Mandalay Region.
