The Bamar People’s Liberation Army (BPLA) says it wants to create an ethnically Bamar army in central Myanmar after gaining fighting experience in Karen and northern Shan states. Its chief commander, Maung Saungkha, recently talked to The Irrawaddy about the group’s plans to relocate to central Myanmar.
There are many anti-regime groups in central Myanmar. Will they welcome you?
We formed the group three years ago to establish a Bamar army. We want to be based in places like Sagaing, Magwe and Mandalay regions. We trained and sought combat experience in the states while building up weaponry.
To create Bamar military strength, we had to prove that we Bamar are equal to other ethnic groups in Myanmar and ready to build a union in equality.
We forged alliances and asked for arms and ammunition. This is how the BPLA developed and now our dream is taking shape. We are a Bamar armed group and we always wanted to be based in Bamar-majority territory.
Some say that the BPLA is moving to central Myanmar but this is wrong: we are returning.
We’re not coming back empty-handed and we return after heavy negotiations.
We have not yet reached a strong consensus with the armed groups in central Myanmar but we vow to cooperate with them militarily.
We can reach a political consensus with them based on mutual understanding and broad-mindedness.
Our priority is to root out military dictatorship. But we will also speak out against other groups when necessary. We are not under the National Unity Government’s (NUG) command. We held talks with the NUG and other groups before returning to central Myanmar.
The BPLA was criticized on social media for saying the NUG did not command it. What is your response?
We established the BPLA as an ethnic Bamar armed group and not a group under the NUG’s command. The People’s Defense Forces (PDF) are the armed wing of the NUG. The NUG functions as a union government in exile and the PDFs are the union armed forces made of people from various ethnic groups.
Rakhine communities have the Arakan Army (AA) and the Karen have the Karen National Union. We believe the Bamar should also have an army representing them.
But we recognize the NUG as a revolutionary government and we will militarily cooperate with it. We have been fighting with the PDFs across Myanmar. The NUG understands that we are working hard to achieve unity. We believe they will cooperate with us without any suspicion.
Do you have enough weapons?
We brought weapons and ammunition with us. We have gained weapons after sacrificing many lives and limbs fighting the regime.
If you establish a liberated area, how will you cooperate with the NUG to establish a civilian administration?
The BPLA will not run a parallel government opposed to the NUG. We will not disrupt its administrative mechanism but only provide military support. We will share responsibility with the PDFs.
They don’t have complete control over central Myanmar and we will negotiate with them on where to fight. When we seize territory, we will not install our administration but will collaborate with the NUG in its existing administration mechanism.
We will be able to practice democracy in areas we control properly.
We can’t call it control if we only control land when junta troops are absent and have to withdraw when they return.
In liberated areas, we will be able to organize small elections to listen to the people. We will not run a parallel government but will cooperate with the NUG as closely as possible.
The BPLA was created in Karen National Liberation Army territory in Karen State, but it mainly fought in northern Shan State alongside the Brotherhood Alliance. China has been putting pressure on the alliance to stop fighting by closing the border. What do the armed groups now say about the revolution?
These groups have always wanted autonomy. The AA wanted federalism long before the 2021 coup.
The same is true for the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, which dreams of controlling Laukkai and Special Region 1. It is also the same for the Ta’ang National Liberation Army.
This revolution was unexpected but it facilitated them in realizing their dreams quickly. And their Operation 1027 boosted the revolution.
We need to become an independent group and launch our operations instead of always following their lead.
The BPLA has grown over the past three years thanks to our allies. It is time we operate independently, launch operations and fully protect the people.
We must end our reliance on other people. We need to stand independently and realize our political objectives on a par with other groups.
The Brotherhood Alliance has done what it needed to do and made achievements. I believe they will not ignore our revolution. They will help where they can. But it is unrealistic to think they will come and fight with us like we have in northern Shan State.
The Bamar make up 70 percent of Myanmar’s population. If we fight with unity, it won’t take long. We have gained considerable combat experience as well as weapons and ammunition over the past three years. We can operate independently now.
What was the most unforgettable experience over the past three years?
The BPLA was founded in KNU Brigade 5 territory. After a year, we sent troops to northern Shan State for military training. The journey took 2½ months followed by six months of training. While in Karen State, we also learned from the AA. Operation 1027 was a turning point for us. People began to know the BPLA and got interested in it. Previously, we were not allowed to report about the fighting because our the allies had different thinking. We can now lead the fighting across Myanmar and we report about the fighting.
This is the opportunity they have given us after we spent three years building trust. We will not undermine it. We will maintain it as we move forward. We will continue to cooperate with our allies and do our best to build ourselves and fight the regime in our home region.
What is your message to the Bamar people?
The revolution is difficult. No matter how strong an army is, you can’t win a war unless you have support. When we have to stand by ourselves, we need greater support from the people.
We love our home. We are returning home and we need people to welcome and support us. The revolution can’t succeed without public support.
We have reached this far because of the people and our success depends on them. We urge them to trust and support us like other revolutionary groups. We will prove ourselves soon with our actions.
