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Founded – 11 March 1989 Headquarters – Mobile headquarters Area of Operation – Mone Koe and Laukkai in Kokang region; Lashio, Hseni, Muse, and Pang Hseng Townships Party’s General Secretary/ Kokang Army’s Commander-in-Chief/ Chariman of Special Region (1) Administration Committee – U Peng Daxun (Peng Deren) Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552736162357 The Kokang Army (MNDAA), led by U Peng Deren, took a leading role in “Operation 1027” and managed to capture and control the entire Kokang region and nine towns in northern Shan State from the military junta. However, the MNDAA could not withstand the pressure from the Chinese government. On 4 September 2024, the MNDAA released a statement of its position, which included points such as: their political goal of achieving genuine self-administration remains unchanged; they will not secede from the country; they will not form a new country; they will not cooperate, communicate, or form alliances with foreign groups that are anti-Chinese or anti-Myanmar; and they will not cooperate militarily or politically with the NUG. The statement also appealed to China to mediate and find a solution through immediate ceasefire and political negotiation. On 3 December 2024, the MNDAA announced a unilateral ceasefire in a five-point statement, effective immediately. It stated that all issues, including that of Lashio, would be resolved through negotiation under the mediation of the Chinese government. The MNDAA also demanded that the military junta cease its air and ground offensive operations throughout Myanmar. Mao Ning, the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced on 18 January 2025, that the MNDAA and the military junta had signed a ceasefire agreement. Although the details of the agreement are not known, the MNDAA had to hand back Lashio town to the military junta. The ceasefire between the MNDAA and the junta revealed the multi-faceted pressure from the Chinese government as well as the pressure from the military junta’s targeted airstrikes on the civilian population. For the MNDAA, the outcome of this ceasefire is that it has been able to retain some of the territories it gained during “Operation 1027” and is able to operate its administrative and public service functions. The MNDAA continues to maintain the right to self-defense, as the junta continues to intensify its air and ground offensives throughout Myanmar.
Reference: Deciphering Myanmar’s Peace Process – A Reference Guide (2024 – 2025) |
