Shan State National Army

The Shan State National Army (Burmese: ရှမ်းပြည် အမျိုးသား တပ်မတော်; abbreviated SSNA) was a Shan nationalist insurgent group that fought against the then ruling State Peace and Development Council military regime of Myanmar (Burma). The commander of the SSNA was Colonel Kan Yod.

Shan State National Army
ရှမ်းပြည် အမျိုးသား တပ်မတော်
Flag of the Shan State National Army
Leaders	Colonel Kan Yod
Dates of operation	1995 (1995)–2005 (2005)
Headquarters	Hsipaw, Myanmar
Active regions	Shan State, Myanmar
Ideology	Shan nationalism Separatism
Size	8,000
Opponents	State opponents Union of Myanmar Tatmadaw Non-state opponents United Wa State Army
Battles and wars	Internal conflict in Myanmar
Preceded by Mong Tai Army Succeeded by Shan State Army - South

History

The Shan State National Army was formed on 7 July 1995 by disgruntled members of Khun Sa's Mong Tai Army (MTA). The group claimed the MTA was too focused on trafficking narcotics from China into Myanmar, rather than focusing on the self-determination of the Shan people. The two leaders and 500 other insurgents decided split from the MTA.^[1]

By September 1995, around 2,000 more insurgents had joined the SSNA, leaving the MTA headquarters at Ha Mong and establishing a base in the town of Hsipaw. The Mong Tai Army eventually surrendered to government forces and disbanded after the mass desertion. The SSNA signed a ceasefire with the government at the end of 1995.

2005 government operation

In April 2005, soldiers of the Tatmadaw and the United Wa State Army conducted a joint operation against the headquarters of the SSNA, resulting in the arrest most of their leaders. On 11 April 2005 and 19 May 2005, two brigades of the SSNA surrendered and disarmed after being instructed by the Tatmadaw to leave the area to government forces. Following the operation, SSNA commander Sai Yi and about 5,000 to 6,000 soldiers left the SSNA and joined the Shan State Army - South (SSA-S), led by Colonel Yawd Serk.^[2][3][4]

Dissolution

After the imprisonment of most of its leaders, the SSNA brigades either surrendered and disarmed or joined the SSA-S in May 2005.^[5]

• The 1st Brigade was disarmed^[6]
• The 6th Brigade joined the SSA-S
• The 9th Brigade joined the SSA-S
• The 11th Brigade under U Kanna was disarmed^[7]
• The 16th Brigade joined the SSA-S
• The 19th Brigade surrendered but did not disarm

See also

• Internal conflict in Burma
• Shan people

References

1. Chronology for Shans in Burma Archived 1 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine
2. Thousands of troops from the former Shan State National Army have recently arrived in the south to resume the armed struggle Archived 11 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
3. "Statement on Shan State National Army and Shan State Army". Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
4. "Shan rebels unite against Rangoon". BBC Burmese. 24 May 2005. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2008.
5. "The SSNA joined the anti-Rangoon Shan State Army 'South' of Col. Yawdserk in May with its remaining 3 brigades". Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
6. Things have gone for the worse for the local people of Hsenwi in northern Shan State since the Shan State National Army's 1th [sic] Brigade had "exchanged arms for peace", retrieved 16 September 2014
7. "One ceasefire commander has had enough of it". Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.

External links

• Photos of United Wa State Army (UWSA) and Shan State Army-South (SSA-S) military outposts along the border of Thailand, Chiang Rai province
• Shanland