Shan army publication: More than 200 clashes since ceasefire
The Shan State Progress Party/ Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) has already fought more than 200 battles, big and small, with the Burma Army that had launched campaigns against it, according to its Golden Jubilee publication.
“Not only failing to keep its word that Burmese forces would be withdrawing from areas around the SSPP/SSA, the Burma Army has expanded its control into SSPP/SSA areas, and had launched military campaigns against it,” it says on P.142. “The result is that clashes between the SSPP/SSA and the Burma Army have taken place more than 200 times since the signing of the (state level) ceasefire agreement.”
One example was in July 2012 when the two sides fought for 17 days after the Burma Army launched an offensive to seize the SSPP/SSA’s Hwe Zawd, Tawng Hio and Zed Lak (Seven Miles) outposts. “The government of U Thein Sein then requested, in the name of peace, to withdraw temporarily. We complied with and since then the outposts are being occupied by the Burmese forces.”
Less well known than its sister organization the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) that is based along the Thai-Burmese border, the SSPP/SSA is led by Lt-Gen Pang Fa, who is Chairman of the SSPP as well as Commander-in-Chief of the SSA.
The SSPP is led by a 31 member Central Committee, 23 permanent and 8 alternative. Its Vice Chairman is Maj Gen Kherh Tai and General Secretary Col Khun Hseng.
The SSA has 3 divisions: 999th (with 3 brigades, 1st, 153rd and 612nd), 918th (with 3 brigades, 27th, 36th and 702nd) and 909th (with 2 brigades, 72nd and 74th). Its Chief of Staff is Col Khemin.
The RCSS/SSA has also claimed to have fought more than 50 clashes during the same time.
Comments
SSA? What about it?
To avoid confusion it is worth noting that there is a Shan State Army - North (SSA-North) and a Shan State Army - South (SSA-South) with their major differences being their respective geographical locations and their respective political affiliations. Historically, in pre-colonial times (pre mid 1800's) the Shan were politically organised into a number of largely autonomous states which the British did not interfere with as much as they did in Burma, a separate ethnic group of which there are about a dozen which have been engaged in both military and civil campaigns do deal with the brutal Burmese Army or Tatmadaw.
The Shan States constitute the most populous and developed after Burma and has been waging various campaigns for autonomy which they claim as their legal and diplomatic right since the treaty of independence which heralded the newly independant country of Burma contained a clause that specifically states that after ten years from the date of signing, the Shan States could opt for independence.
The treaty (Pang Long Agreement, for the town in which the meetings took place) was signed in 1948 and in 1958 a group of Shan students instigated the formation of a military organization to fight for the promised autonomy. The Karen had been fighting a military campaign since soon after independence was negotiated in 1948 and the Burmese Government which is supported or perhaps controlled by the Tatmadaw which is notorious for its brutal opposition to any civil action for democracy in the cities and equally notorious for the brutality it freely uses against villagers in the rural regions where there is any insurgent activity. The country was ruled for some decades by General Ne Win who seized power in a coup in 1962 when the popular leader Senior General (Bogyoke) Aung San was assassinated along with his cabinet. His daughter, Daw Suu Kyi is the figurehead for the National League for Democracy which has overwhelming electoral support in the most populous region. The country continues to endure a miserable standard of living often suffering military attacks, extrajudicial executions and torture when it used to be the most prosperous economy in the region prior to World War 2.
So, in the Shan States or Shan State there exists two armies each calling themselves Shan State Army and they are allied but separate. The SSA - North is affiliated with the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) while the SSA - South is affiliated with Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD). Both groups field candidates in elections when they are held but there is no friction between the two that I am aware of.