CNI News

11 September 2025

The Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) announced it will effectively take action against those who impersonate the SNA, send letters to the public, and threaten people to extort money, according to SNA Joint Secretary Colonel Se Wam Hpa.

In Mohnyin Township, Kachin State, a group of people have been distributing letters claiming to be from SNA Battalion (4). The group threatened residents to contact 09-68716756 and pay 300 lakh kyats between 4th and 6th September, said in the letters.

The SNA stated that such acts are carried out by enemies disguising themselves as SNA, intimidating the public, and deliberately tarnishing the SNA’s reputation. The SNA emphasized it does not want public fear and anxiety to spread.

Colonel Se Wam Hpa clarified that no SNA Battalion (4) exists in that area, and even the names being used were incorrect.

“Up to this moment, our Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) has never harmed or oppressed our own people. We are also not an organization that would ever cause suffering to the Union. What is happening now is an attempt to damage our national dignity by impersonating the SNA. We will strongly denounce and decisively crush both the individuals carrying this out and the organizations behind them.”, he said.

Currently, SNA Brigade 565 is active in Mohnyin Township, Kachin State.

The Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) is engaged in clashes in the Indawgyi region with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Kachin People’s Defense Force (KPDF) joint forces, as part of its efforts to defend areas inhabited by the Shanni people.

Fighting has also broken out between SNA and KIA-PDF joint forces in Sagaing Region, particularly in Banmauk, Hkamti, and Tamu townships, which border Kachin State.

The Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) was founded on July 5, 1989, and is currently organized into five brigades.