The ethnic Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) on Monday announced it is ready to engage in peace talks with the Myanmar junta, expressing concern that civilians were bearing the brunt of armed conflict in northern Shan State.
The ethnic armed group emphasized the widespread civilian suffering amid ongoing clashes and deadly junta airstrikes. It also acknowledged the Chinese government’s efforts to mediate conflict resolution in Myanmar, adding it would cooperate to ensure a peaceful outcome.
“We are always ready to engage in dialogue to solve the problems, given the plight of war-affected civilians, while retaining our right to self-defense,” the TNLA statement said.
The TNLA is among three members of the Brotherhood Alliance, which launched Operation 1027 in late October in northern Shan State, turning the tide of the popular armed revolt against the regime. The offensive halted in January after a truce brokered by China.
The TNLA resumed fighting in June, alleging that the regime had continued air and artillery strikes in violation of the ceasefire, killing hundreds of civilians in territories the TNLA had seized during the first phase of Operation 1027.
The ethnic army has captured a dozen towns in northern Shan State and Mandalay Region over the past year.
In August, as clashes threatened Myanmar’s second-largest city of Mandalay, China warned the TNLA to stop fighting immediately or face consequences. Beijing duly began closing border crossings to TNLA-controlled territories, cutting off supplies of food, medicines and fuel.
The TNLA statement on dialogue comes after a similar declaration by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) in October. Following Chinese pressure, the MNDAA promised to hold off launching fresh offensives and pledged it would not cooperate politically or militarily with the civilian National Unity Government.
The TNLA’s statement came after Min Aung Hlaing made his first visit to China since the coup earlier this month, receiving Beijing’s firm backing for his regime.
A political analyst said the TNLA issued the statement only in response to pressure from China coupled with Min Aung Hlaing’s call for peace talks.
“They [the junta and TNLA] often say they are ready to talk. They may meet if China keeps pressuring them. But disputes will be inevitable as soon as they discuss territory. Though the regime talks about dialogue, it continues to conduct daily airstrikes on civilian populations,” he said.
Min Aung Hlaing used his National Day speech this year to call for dialogue to address longstanding disputes over ethnic territories.
“If we solve political problems by arms, we may achieve liberty but not stability,” he said.
The TNLA’s General Tar Bhone Kyaw told AFP on Monday, “We will talk, but we will not give territory.”
The TNLA said its armed struggle aims to liberate the Ta’ang people from oppression and establish Ta’ang State as part of a federal union that guarantees self-determination for all ethnic groups in Myanmar, including the Bamar majority.
Operation 1027 saw the TNLA capture 11 towns in northern Shan State – Namhsan, Mongton, Kutkai, Mongngaw, Namtu, Namhkam, Monglon, Kyaukme, Nawnghkio, Mongmit and Hsipaw – and Mogok in Mandalay Region. It has formed administrative committees of TNLA officials and civilians to govern the towns.
