Shan State Army - South

Not to be confused with the Shan State Army - North.
Shan State Army - South
တပ်ႉသိုၵ်းၸိုင်ႈတႆး - ပွတ်းၸၢၼ်း
Participant in the Internal conflict in Myanmar

Flag of the Shan State Army - South
Active 1996 (1996)–present
Ideology Shan nationalism
Separatism
Leaders Yawd Serk (1996–2014)
Headquarters Mae Hong Son, Thailand
Area of operations Shan State, Myanmar
Strength 6,000-8,000[1][2]
Originated as Mong Tai Army
Shan State National Army
(Merged with the SSA-S in 2005)
Opponents

State opponents
Myanmar Government of Myanmar

Non-state opponents

United Wa State Army
Battles and wars Internal conflict in Myanmar

The Shan State Army-South (SSA-S) (Shan: တပ်ႉသိုၵ်းၸိုင်ႈတႆး - ပွတ်းၸၢၼ်း), sometimes referred to as the Shan State Army/Restoration Council of Shan State (SSA/RCSS), and simply as the Shan State Army[3] is one of the largest insurgent groups currently fighting against the government of Myanmar. The commander in chief of the SSA-S was Lieutenant General Yawd Serk until his resignation on 3 February 2014.

History

The Shan State Army – South was formed by Lieutenant General Yawd Serk after the Mong Tai Army/Shan State Restoration Council (MTA/SSRC), which was led by Khun Sa, surrendered to the Burmese Army in January 1995, in Homong Eastern Shan State.

After he refused to surrender with Khun Sa on 27 January 1996, Lieutenant General Sao Yawd Serk was believed to have led around 800 Shan fighters in the central of Shan State, and established the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S) in 1996. He then persuaded the fighters to resume the resistance against the Burmese Army. Shortly after, he was able to recruit a thousand more Shan fighters before returning to the Shan-Thai border.

During their occupation of the Shan-Thai border, SSA-S further managed to recruit significant numbers of troops, and built its headquarters there. On 27 May 2000, SSA-S formed the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), to act as its political wing, with 11 Central Executive Committee members to lead on the political front. General Yawd Serk was chosen to be the chairman of the RCSS. Since the SSA-S formed, it has faced constant attacks from the Burmese Army.

Territory

The SSA-South has 5 bases along the Thai-Myanmar border:

  1. Loi Tai Leng - its main base opposite Pang Mapha District, Mae Hong Son
  2. Loi Moong Merng - opposite Muang District, Mae Hong Son
  3. Loi Lam - opposite Wiang Haeng District, Chiang Mai
  4. Loi Hsarm Hsip - opposite Fang district, Chiang Mai
  5. Loi Gaw wann - opposite Mae Fa Luang District, Chiang Rai [4]

Size and armament

Recent estimates place the size of the SSA around fifteen thousand 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 includes the M16 rifle, AK-47, RPD, FN MAG, RPK, M79, USAS-12, Mortars, RPG-7 and M203.

Alliances

On 21 May 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.[5]

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:

  1. Lahu Democratic Union (LDU)
  2. Pa-O National Liberation Organisation(PNLO)
  3. Restoration Council of Shan State (SSA’s political arm)
  4. Tai Coordination Committee(TCC) and
  5. Wa National Organisation(WNO).[6]

There was a Six State Military Alliance with the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), Chin National Front (CNF), Kachin National Organisation (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.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Myanmar Peace Monitor
  2. ↑ Burma center for Ethnic Studies, Jan. 2012, "Briefing Paper No. 1" http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs13/BCES-BP-01-ceasefires(en).pdf
  3. ↑ RCSS/SSA Holds Opening Ceremony of Military Training
  4. ↑ "Shan army set to cast a wide net". S.H.A.N., 8 June 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
  5. ↑ "Shan rebels unite against Rangoon". BBC Burmese. 24 May 2005. Retrieved 7 February 2008.
  6. 1 2 "Shan State Congress formed". S.H.A.N., 24 December 2008. Retrieved 12 June 2009.

External links

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