Shan State National Army
Shan State National Army | |
|---|---|
| Colonel | Kan Yod |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Dissolved | Largely inactive |
| Split from | Mong Tai Army |
| Headquarters | Thai-Burma border |
| Ideology | Independentism Shan nationalism |
| Colors | Red, Green, Yellow and White |
| Party flag | |
 | |
The Shan State National Army (SSNA) was an armed pro-independence Shan nationalist group fighting against the 'State Peace and Development Council' (SPDC) military regime of Burma. The commander of the SSNA was Colonel Kan Yod.
History
The Shan State National Army was formed on 7 July 1995 by disgruntled members of Khun Sa's Mong Tai Army (MTA) led by Colonel Kan Yod and Dae Wain. Claiming that the MTA was too much too involved in drug trafficking and too little in fighting for the Shan cause, they decided to set up a separate group.
About 8,000 fighters joined the newly-established SSNA, leaving the Ha Mong headquarters of the MTA and setting up camp in Hsipaw. The Mong Tai Army never recovered after this mass-desertion. The SSNA signed a ceasefire with the 'State Peace and Development Council' at the end of 1995.
In April 2005 the troops of the Burmese military junta and the United Wa State Army conducted a joint operation against the headquarters of the Shan State National Army arresting most of their leaders. After the Burmese Military instructed the remaining fighters to leave their areas under their control and hand them over to the Tatmadaw, two of the SSNA brigades surrendered, the 11th in April and the 19th in May. Following these events Sai Yi and about 5,000 to 6,000 troops left the SSNA and joined the Shan State Army-South led by Col. Yawd Serk.[1][2]
Fate of the SSNA Brigades
After the surrender the Shan State National Army's remaining 3 brigades joined the Shan State Army 'South' of Colonel Yawdserk in May 2005.[3]
- The 1st Brigade was disarmed.[4]
- The 6th Brigade joined the SSA-S.
- The 9th Brigade joined the SSA-S.
- The 11th Brigade under U Kanna was disarmed.[5]
- The 16th Brigade joined the SSA-S.
- The 19th Brigade keeps the ceasefire.
See also
References
- ^ Thousands of troops from the former Shan State National Army have recently arrived in the south to resume the armed struggle
- ^ Statement on Shan State National Army and Shan State Army
- ^ The SSNA joined the anti-Rangoon Shan State Army ‘South’ of Col. Yawdserk in May with its remaining 3 brigades
- ^ Things have gone for the worse for the local people of Hsenwi in northern Shan State since the Shan State National Army's 1th Brigade had "exchanged arms for peace"
- ^ One ceasefire commander has had enough of it