The Shan State Army-South (Burmese: ရှမ်းပြည် တပ်မတော် (တောင်ပိုင်း); SSA - South, sometimes called simply the Shan State Army, though there is also a Shan State Army-North) is one of the bigger rebel factions fighting against the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) regime of Burma. The commander of the SSA is Lieutenant General Yawd Serk.
Yawd Serk announced that there was no more SSA South and SSA North and there would be only one SSA in a ceremony held at its headquarter, Loi Taileng, at 21 May 2011.[1]
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The SSA-South has 5 bases along the Thai-Burma border:
Recent estimates place the size of the SSA at just over ten thousands troops. The Leader of the SSA is Lieutenant General Yawd Serk. Despite being isolated in the mountains of the Shan State, the SSA has managed to procure large quantities of weapons from both China and the United States. Unlike most rebel forces the SSA have uniforms and go through a seven week boot-camp to prepare them for combat with Government forces.
Known Equipment include the M16 rifle, AK-47, RPD, FN MAG, RPK, M79, USAS-12, Mortars, RPG-7 and M203.
On May 21, 2005, the Shan State Army pledged to work with the Shan State National Army against the SPDC to achieve the Independence of the Shan State.[3]
In December 2008, the Shan State Congress (SSC) was formed at Loi Taileng under the aegis of Yawd Serk. It includes non-Shan groups as well with members from:
There was a Six State Military Alliance with Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), Chin National Front (CNF), Kachin National Organization (KNO), Karen National Union (KNU) and Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), formed earlier but dormant for some years, and Yawd Serk expressed the need to revive this in anticipation of the 2010 elections.[4]