All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF)

Staff

June 6, 2013

2975

SUMMARY

Founded: November 1st, 1988

Headquarters: KNU Controlled Area

Branches: US and Australia

Active Region: Within KIA and KNU-controlled areas

Size: Over 400

Chairman – Ye Baw Than Khae

Vice Chairman – Ye Baw Myo Win

General Secretary– Ye Baw Sonny

On its 30th anniversary in 2020, The All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) said that Myanmar’s political landscape would be marked by delays in the peace process, increasing military conflicts, and new health challenges. The group has advocated for human rights, particularly the rights of children living in conflict zones.

A statement issued on the 32nd anniversary of the founding of the ABSDF called for support during the 2020 general elections with the stated aim of working for peace and national reconciliation. The group has three political demands: to conduct inclusive political dialogue, to draft a constitution that guarantees democracy, equality and self-determination, and to create a democratic federal union.

The ABSDF, which emerged from the 1988 pro-democracy uprising, was removed from the list of unlawful associations on October 12th, 2015. The group signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) on October 15th, 2015, and participated in the peace process.

The ABSDF was criticised for its participation in the 6th anniversary of the NCA by the State Administration Council (SAC). On October 24th, 2021, the group issued a statement that its participation in the event was not a decision of the ABSDF central committee. At around 5 pm on November 2nd, the military junta forces and police arrived at the ABSDF liaison office in Myawaddy to detain four members of the group, including Aung Baw, who was in charge, and Tin Soe.

The ABSDF reported that it had joined forces with the local People Defence Force in Sagaing Region to attack the military junta forces. Its leader said that the ethnic armed groups can no longer expect peace from negotiations with the SAC.

Ceasefires and Peace Process
Signed NCA – October 15, 2015
Fighting after signing NCA
2015-16 – unknown

Official Representative Team
U Myo Win (UPDJC)
Salaing Yaw Aung (JMC)
Liaison offices
1. Myawaddy
2. Muse
3. Proposed – Loikaw, Kalay, Phayathounsu and Myeik

Alliances
ABSDF Northern Myanmar camps are in KIA controlled area

Contact
Email : [email protected]

CEC Members
1. Yebaw Than Khe – Chairman
2. Yebaw Myo Win – Vice Chairman
3. Yebaw Sonny – General Secretary
4. Yebaw Myint Oo – Secretary 1
5. Yebaw Htut @ Hla Htay – Secretary 2
6. Yebaw Lwan Ni – CEC
7. Yebaw Mi Su Pwint @ Ma Lay Lone – CEC
8. Yebaw Maung Oo – CEC
9. Yebaw Salaing Yaw Aung – CEC

Ceasefire & Peace Process

NCA signed: 15 October 2015

# Post-NCA Signed Clashes:
2015-16: unknown

The ABSDF is a student army that formed after the 1988 uprisings. Their objective is to fight for democracy and human rights in Myanmar alongside other democratic and ethnic nationality forces. They have 7 camps along the Myanmar-Thailand border, 3 camps along the Myanmar-India border and 3 camps on the Myanmar-China border. The ABSDF also has foreign branches in the US and Australia.

Official delegation team

U Myo Win (UPDJC)
Salai Yaw Aung (JMC)

Liaison offices

1. Myawaddy
2. Muse
3. Proposed: Loikaw, Kalay,
Payathonsu, and Myeik

Alliances:

ABSDF northern Burma Branch bases in KIA
control area.

Contact:
Website:
Facebook:
Email: [email protected]
Phone:+66 808 7725

Meetings

#	Date	Location	Militia rep	Govt Rep	Details
1	17/01/2012	Mae Sot, Thailand	Vice-chairman Myo Win	Aung Thaung	ABSDF presented a ‘peace talk’ paper that defined their position. They accepted the government’s peace offer as a constructive first step and ready to talk if they are allocated equal rights. The government sent a formal letter offering to engage in peace talks with the ABSDF on Jan.10, 2012.
2	09/02/2012	Mae Sot, Thailand	Vice-chairman Myo Win	Major Saw Khin Soe (representing Aung Thaung)	No agreement was made, but both sides agreed to meet again for further negotiations.
3	09/11/2012	Chiang Mai, Thailand	Chairman Than Khe, General secretary Myo Win and 4 others	Aung Min	Both parties agreed on two points: (1) allow an ABSDF delegation to safely conduct a series of studies on the conditions in Myanmar (2) to continue political dialogue with the government Hla Maung Shwe, Nyo Ohn Myint were present
4	18-24/12/2012	Naypyidaw and MPC Yangon	Chairman Than Khe, Secretary Sonny Mahindra and 7 others	Aung Min and MPC members	An ABSDF delegation organized a study trip to better understand the government’s development and implementation of the peace process in the country. During the trip, they consulted with 88 Generation Student Group leaders, SNLD leader Khun Htun Oo and other ethnic political party leaders. The ABSDF delegation also met with their respective families.
5	21/05/2013	MPC	ABSDF	U Aung Min	Ko Kyaw Ko and Ko Sonny Mahindra led the ABSDF met with U Aung Min at MPC on May 21. ABSDF said “peace and national reconcialiation is important and priority to implement”. they discussed about continuing peace talks. Representatives from northern region did not turn up as the govt did not provide assistance or security.
6	12/07/2013	Chiang Mai, Thailand	ABSDF technical team	MPC technical team	No resulted
7	05/08/2013	Yangon-MPC	ABSDF- total 34- 24 from CEC, 5 from northern and 5 from India	UPWC/ MPC	4 agreement, 1. starting from august 5 to ceasefire, 2. ABSDF members must be free going around without weapons 3. Liaisons office open at Myawaddy and other places etc. 4. Union level discussion will be on 10 August for the official representative. 12 points proposed by ABSDF.
8	10/08/2013	Yangon-MPC	ABSDF Chairman Than Khe, Vice-Chairman Myo Win, General Secretary Sonny and CEC members	U Aung Min and U Thein Zaw,Lt-Gen Thet Naing Win, U Ohn Myint, U Khin Yi and U Zeyar Aung,U Zaw Min, Deputy Attorney-General U Tun Tun Oo, the Kayin state advocate-general, the state security and border affairs minister, the senior military officers from the Office of Commander-in chief (Army), members of Myanmar Peace Center	12 points agreement
9	08/11/2013	Yangon-MPC	General Secretary Sonny and CEC members	UPWC technical team	Informal meeting
10	09/11/2013	Yangon-MPC	ABSDF/ ALP	UPWC- Aung Min	Informal meeting
11	20/11/2013	Nay Pyi Taw	ABSDF	UPWC- Aung Min	UPWC and ABSDF meets in Naypyitaw for the ceasefire terms during the union level talks.
12	30/05/2014	Naypyitaw	Ko Sonny and Ko Kyaw Lin	Minister of Commerce U Win Myint	Business

Developments

Demands:
release all political prisoners
stop offensives in Kachin state and start political dialogue
nationwide ceasefire
build mutual trust and respect all-inclusive dialogue

Initial Agreements:
The government requested for the ABSDF to surrender their arms and set up a political party.

Activities with partners

The ABSDF supports the KIA in military campaigns. (1988-96, 2011-ongoing)

During the ABSDF delegation study trip in December 2012, they met with NLD patron Tin Oo Ethnic Shan, Arakan and Mon leaders from the United Nationalities Alliance and 88 Generation Students group.

Statements

Reference: Deciphering Myanmar’s Peace Process – A Reference Guide (2021 – 2022)