Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army
Encyclopedia
The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), formally the Kokang Democracy Party, is a rebel army
of Kokang people
in northeastern Burma and has existed since 1989. The army, also known as the Eastern Shan State Army, has had a ceasefire
with the Burmese government for two decades. Yang Mao-liang
is the leader of the MNDAA.
leader, Phone Kyar Shin (Peng Jia Sheng), who had been with the communists
since 1968, broke away and formed the MNDAA. Along with his brother, Peng Jiafu, they became the new unit in Kokang
. The strength of the army is between 1,500 and 2,000 men.
The rebels soon became the first group to agree to a ceasefire with the government troops. After the ceasefire, the area underwent an economic boom, with both the MDNAA and regional Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) troops benefiting financially from increased opium
harvests and heroin-refining. The area also produces methamphetamine
. The MDNAA and other paramilitary
groups control the cultivation areas, making it an easy target for drug trafficking
and organised crime groups.
, the Myanmar Armed Forces. This was the largest outbreak of fighting between ethnic armies and government troops since the signing of the cease-fire 20 years earlier.
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
of Kokang people
Kokang people
The Kokang people are an ethnic group of Burma . They are Mandarin-speaking Han Chinese living in Kokang Special Region. In 1997, it was estimated that the Kokang people, together with more recently-immigrated Yunnanese, constituted 30–40 percent of Burma's ethnic Chinese population.The...
in northeastern Burma and has existed since 1989. The army, also known as the Eastern Shan State Army, has had a ceasefire
Ceasefire
A ceasefire is a temporary stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. Ceasefires may be declared as part of a formal treaty, but they have also been called as part of an informal understanding between opposing forces...
with the Burmese government for two decades. Yang Mao-liang
Yang Mao-liang
Yang Mao-liang is a high-ranking member of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army. He also controls an enterprise called Peace Myanmar Group, which holds the franchise for Mitsubishi Electric in Burma and operates a paint factory and liquor distillery .-References:**...
is the leader of the MNDAA.
Background
The area had been under the control of several warlords since the 1960s. The army was formed on March 12, 1989, after the local Communist Party of BurmaCommunist Party of Burma
The Communist Party of Burma is the oldest existing political party in Burma. The party is unrecognised by the Burmese authorities, rendering it illegal; so it operates in a clandestine manner, often associating with insurgent armies along the border of People's Republic of China...
leader, Phone Kyar Shin (Peng Jia Sheng), who had been with the communists
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
since 1968, broke away and formed the MNDAA. Along with his brother, Peng Jiafu, they became the new unit in Kokang
Kokang
Kokang , formally the First Special Region, is a self-administrative region of Burma . It is located in the northern part of Shan State, with the Salween River to its west, and it shares a border with China's Yunnan Province in the east. Its total land area is around . The capital is Laukkai...
. The strength of the army is between 1,500 and 2,000 men.
The rebels soon became the first group to agree to a ceasefire with the government troops. After the ceasefire, the area underwent an economic boom, with both the MDNAA and regional Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) troops benefiting financially from increased opium
Opium
Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy . Opium contains up to 12% morphine, an alkaloid, which is frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. The latex also includes codeine and non-narcotic alkaloids such as papaverine, thebaine and noscapine...
harvests and heroin-refining. The area also produces methamphetamine
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
. The MDNAA and other paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
groups control the cultivation areas, making it an easy target for drug trafficking
Illegal drug trade
The illegal drug trade is a global black market, dedicated to cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of those substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs by drug prohibition laws.A UN report said the...
and organised crime groups.
Kokang incident
In August 2009, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army became involved in a violent conflict with Burma's military juntaMilitary junta
A junta or military junta is a government led by a committee of military leaders. The term derives from the Spanish language junta meaning committee, specifically a board of directors...
, the Myanmar Armed Forces. This was the largest outbreak of fighting between ethnic armies and government troops since the signing of the cease-fire 20 years earlier.