EROs Profile

National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS)

Staff

June 6, 2013

2348

SUMMARY

Founded: 1989

Headquarters: Mongla, Eastern Shan State.

Active Regions: Mongla, Shan State (Special Region # 4)

Size: Over 3000

Chairman – Sai Lin

Vice Chairman – San Pae

General Secretary – Sao Hsengla

The National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS) was formed in 1989 after a split with the Communist Party of Burma (CPB). It reached a ceasefire agreement with the military government on June 30th, 1989. The NDAA-EES is based in Mong La. It signed state-level and union-level ceasefire agreements in September and December 2011 with the U Thein Sein administration. It did not sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).

There have been no clashes between the military and the NDAA-ESS. It held informal talks with the NLD-led Peace Commission to sign the NCA, but it only attended the Union Peace Conference – 21st Century Panglong as an observer. It is a member of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC).

On November 30th, 2019 the NDAA-ESS stated that it believes that peacebuilding has been successful in the last 30 years because of the ceasefire, and that the country can only prosper if it follows the path of peaceful development.
Following the February 2021 military coup, the NDAA-ESS attended an informal meeting between Northern Alliance members and SAC representatives in the NDAA-administered town of Mongla on December 15th, 2021.

Ceasefires and Peace Process
2nd EAO to sign ceasefire agreement
Step 1 – State – Level Ceasefire Agreement (September 7, 2011)
Step 2 – Union – level ceasefire agreement (December 27, 2011)
Former Ceasefire agreement –
June 30, 1989

Official Representative Team
rotating

Liaison Offices
Yangon
Taunggyi
Kyaing Tong
Tachileik
Mandalay (reopened)

Ceasefire &Peace Process

2nd ceasefire signing group.
Stage 1: State level ceasefire 7 Sept 2011
Stage 2: Union level ceasefire 27 Dec. 2011
Previous ceasefire: 30 June 1989
Official delegation team: Rational

Official delegation team

Rotational

Liaison offices

Yangon, Taunggyi, Kengtung, Tachilek, and Mandalay (reopened)

Meetings

#	Date	Location	Armed Group Rep	Govt Rep	Details
1	07/09/2011	Kengtung, Shan state	San Pae	Aung Thaung	State-level 7 point ceasefire agreement
2	8/10/2011	Kengtung, Shan state	San Pae	Aung Thaung	The Mong La group will be allowed to reopen its liaison offices, reassignment of staff for ensuring better education, health, agriculture and transport in Special Region (4) and the elimination of illegal narcotic drugs, and signed agreements. Other govt. delegates: Thein Zaw; the Shan state Chief Minister Sai Aung Myat; Shan State Security and Border Affairs Minister Colonel Aung Thu; and the Shan state Advocate General Maung Maung
3	27/12/2011	Mongla, Shan state	Sai Lin	Aung Thaung	Union Level 6-point ceasefire agreement other NDAA delegates: Vice-Chairman U San Pae and Secretary U Kham Maung Other govt. delegates: U Thein Zaw, Union Ministers U Ohn Myint and U Win Tun met Chairman of Special Region (4) U Sai Lin, Vice-Chairman U San Pae and Secretary U Kham Maung
4	06/10/2012	Kengtung, Shan state	Sai Lin	Myanmar army chief vice-snr Gen. Min Aung Hlaing	Agreement to cooperate against drugs
5	03/12/2012	Mongla, Shan state	Sai Lin	Aung Min	Granted permission to produce 1,000 tons of timber (out of 10,000 tons it had requested), construct hydropower plants and operate mineral mines Other govt. delegates: U Thein Zaw ,U Soe Thein, President’s Office Minister; Lt-Gen Thein Htay, Border Affairs Minister; Sao Aung Myat, Shan State Chief Minister; Col Aung Thu, Shan State Security and Border Affairs Minister; Maj-Gen Than Tun Oo, Commander, Triangle Region Command; and Maj Gen Aung Soe, Commander, Northeastern Region Command
6	09/05/2013	Mongla, Shan state	NDAA	UPWC vice chairman 3 Thein Zaw	They discussed 2014 census taking andd ongoing development projects in the area
7	03/09/2013	Kengtung	NDAA	UPWC/ Shwe Mann	informal meeting
8	04/10/2013	Pang Sang	NDAA	UPWC	informal meeting
9	21/03/2014	Mong Lar	NDAA ( Special Region 4 Mongla)	Minister U Thein Zaw, vice chairman of the government’s Peace Making Committee	Informal meeting 7 points joint statement released for the peace between government and NDAA.
10	01/03/2014	Naypyitaw	Pao Yu Yi, Zhao Zhongdan, U Sam Lu (Khun Sam Lu) and Sao Khun Hseng	U Thein Sein	Informal meeting Leaders from UWSA, NDAA and SSPP met president Thein Sein after attending the census campaign in Naypyitaw.
11	03/03/2014	Naypyitaw	vice-chairman U Sam Lu	Thura U Shwe Mann	Informal meeting Along with UWSA leaders, they attended the census campaign.
12	25/08/2014	Naypyitaw	NDAA-ESS, U San Pay (Vice chairman) , UWSA – Shao Min Lian (Vice Chairman), SSPP/SSA Gen Khae Taine vice chairman	President Thein Sein	Informal meeting
13	25/08/2014	Naypyitaw	NDAA-ESS, U San Pay (Vice chairman), UWSA – Shao Min Lian (Vice Chairman)	Commander In Chief , Min Aung Hlaing	Informal meeting
14	26/08/2014	Naypyitaw	NDAA-ESS, U San Pay (Vice chairman) , UWSA – Shao Min Lian (Vice Chairman), SSPP/SSA Gen Khur Tai vice chairman	Parliament Speaker Shwe Mann , Khin Aung Myint	Informal meeting

Developments

Agreements:

1. Agrees to continue to hold talks to cooperate with defense forces of the state for security and defense of the state
2. Cooperate to improve tourism, mining, and electricity in NDAA controlled areas

Demanding:

- To open tourism areas for Thai and Chinese tourists
- To allow the NDAA access to mining, coal and gold exploration and production
- To allow outside business groups to invest in the NDAA areas
- To send researchers to the area to assess natural resources
- To allow access to teak wood trading for 10,000 tons, as well as 10,000 tons of other hardwoods
- To allow NDAA control of border checkpoints and to receive border checkpoint tax fees
- To allow NGOs and the U.N. to help improve the area
- To supply NDAA areas with rice, fuel oil and money
Cooperate to improve education, health and transportation in NDAA controlled areas
Government officials will be sent to run government offices in NDAA areas and NDAA people will be sent to work in NDAA liaison offices in government controlled areas
NDAA to take part in government’s 15 year (1999-2014) drug elimination plan

Demanding:

To issue national identification cards for people in the NDAA controlled area of Eastern Shan state
To issue vehicle licenses for people in NDAA areas

Statements

Oct 5, 2014 – UWSA and NDAA released a joint statement

Mar 21, 2014 – NDAA and UPWC released the Joint statement for the development issue after ceasefire

Mar 21, 2014 – UPWC and NDAA informal meeting in Mong Lar, NDAA headquarter for the Nationwide ceasefire agreement

Jan 10, 2013 – NDAA, UWSA and SSPP/SSA issued a joint statement for the govt to stop its offensive against the KIO/KIA and start political dialogue

Partnerships

Shan Conference named “Trust building for peace” was held in Taw-win-ninsi hall in Shwegontai Township, Yangon on Nov. 26, 2012. Minister Aung Min (chief negotiator) gave the opening speech. Minister Aung Min and Minister Soe Thein also attended the meeting. One-hundred and fifty Shan representatives from the SNLD, SNDP, TNDP, RCSS/SSA-S, SSPP/SSA-N, NDAA and others attended the meeting.

SNLD chairperson U Khun Tun Oo visited Mongla from Dec. 6-9, 2012 where he met Mongla leader U Sai Leun. U Khun Tun Oo was accompanied by RCSS/SSA liaison officers.

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