The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) faces mounting criticism for deciding to allow junta troops back into Mandalay’s Mogoke and Shan State’s Mongmit townships under a Chinese-mediated truce.
Local resistance forces say the decision was not the TNLA’s to make and have vowed to defend the areas against the military regime regardless.
On Oct. 27, TNLA announced that it had agreed to withdraw from Mogoke and Mongmit, which it had seized during Operation 1027 in cooperation with allied resistance groups.
According to sources present at a recent meeting, TNLA leaders told allied resistance groups that the military regime would re-enter Mogoke and Mongmit at the end of November, with assurances that there would be no disruption or clashes during the handover.
Local units loyal to the shadow National Unity Government (NUG) have reportedly formed an emergency command structure to coordinate their defense.
Residents have also condemned the TNLA’s decision.
A Mogoke People’s Defense Force (PDF) member said the allied resistance groups were told that the handover was agreed under pressure.
“The TNLA held negotiations with resistance groups and asked them not to disrupt their current operations,” he said. “They asked us to understand because they had no choice but to return the towns due to multiple pressures, and that it is a temporary pause in fighting.”
Local opposition has been strong. On Nov. 6, Mogoke residents staged a protest, banging pots and pans to declare their disapproval of the military regime’s return. Many town residents have since fled, fearing the renewed junta presence.
“We heartily welcomed [the TNLA] with all our trust, but now it feels like we’ve been stabbed in the back,” a Mogoke resident told The Irrawaddy. “Around 80 percent of Mogoke’s population has already left. We’re facing an exodus like we’ve never seen before.”
As for Mongmit, northern Shan’s Kachin Independence Army (KIA) said it has no military plans of its own but will support allied forces like the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) and PDF if they decide to act.
KIA spokesman Major Naw Bu confirmed that KIA Battalion 34 is active in Mongmit and has established joint bases there with allied groups.
