Pa-Oh National Liberation Organization

ပအို့ဝ် အမျိုးသား လွတ်မြောက်ရေး အဖွဲ့

Armed Wing: Pa-Oh National Liberation Army

SUMMARY

Founded: December 11th, 1949 (First time), December 7th – 9th 2009 (Second time)
Headquarters: Laybwer camp, Southern Shan State.
Active Regions: Shan State – Hsihseng, Hopong, Namsang, Langkho, Maukme.
Size: Over 400

The PNLO is the combined force of the Pa-O People’s Liberation Organization (PPLO) and the former PNLO. The PPLO was led by Col. Khun Okkar and formed on 18 June 1991 to continue the armed struggle after its mother organisation Pa-Oh National Organization (PNO)led by U Aung Kham Hti, signed a ceasefire with the government. The former PNLO was a SNPLO splinter group (Shan State Nationalities People’s Liberation Organization) led by Brig. Gen. Khun Ti Soung and formed on 10 June 2007.

The two groups were officially united at a Pa-O National Conference held on 7-9 Dec. 2009 that formed the newly structured PNLA and PNLO and drafted the PNLO constitution. Attendees included the Pa-Oh Youth Organization, Pa-Oh Labor Union and individuals such as U Khun Myint Tun (Thaton MP in 1990 election) and Khun Tin Swe (member of NCUBand PDC). Col. Khun Okker was elected as the chairman and Brig. Gen. Khun Ti Soungas vice-chairman. The conference chose the name PNLO to honor the former PNLO’s initiation and commitment to the “third revolution”.

The first PNLO congress held in Laybwer military camp on 16-20 May 2013 elected new central committee members in which Khun Myint Tun was appointed the new chairman. Previous chairmen Col. Khun Okker and Brig. Gen. Khun Ti Soung has since become a patron.

The PNLO’s current headquarters is located near the Thai-Myanmar border opposite Mae Hong Son, Thailand.

Central Committee Members:
Patrons: Col. Hkun Okker, Brig-Gen Khun Ti Saung, Khun Tet Lu
Chairman: Khun Thurein
Vice-Chairman: Khun Myint Tun
General Secretary: Khun Aung Min
Joint General Secretary (1): Khun Thomas
Joint General Secretary (2): Nang Nwe Nwe
Commander in Chief: Col. Khun Thurein
Chief of Staff: Lt. Col. Khun Aung Mann
CEC Member: Khun Tin Shwe Oo
CEC Member: Lt. Col. Khun Ohn Maung
CC Member: Khun Tun Tin
CC Member: Lt. Col. Khun Kyaw Htin
CC Member: Lt. Col. Khun Swe Hto
CC Member: Nang Phyu Pyar

The Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PLNO), which signed ceasefire agreements at the state and union levels between August 2012 and March 2013, was also among the ethnic armed groups that signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) on October 15th, 2015, under U Thein Sein government. The PLNO participated in the peace process through the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) under the NCA.

On December 11th, 2020, the day PLNO was founded and the 71st Revolution Day against the feudal system, the group announced that it would participate in a series of political dialogues, including the 21st Century Panglong, to achieve national reconciliation, national unity and the establishment of a federal democratic union. The group also said it would seek to convene a Pa-O National Convention based on the principle of inclusiveness.

Clashes broke out between the PLNO and the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS/SSA) in late 2018 and early January 2019 because their areas of operation are contiguous. The fighting forced more than 500 locals in Langkho District to flee.

The PLNO also called on the people to exercise equal rights in the 2020 general election in the spirit of “one person, one vote.” With a view to the success of the peace process and the building of a democratic federal union after the 2020 elections, the group also welcomed the formation of the national unity government based on the principles of national reconciliation.

Ceasefire &Peace Process

13th ceasefire signing group.
Stage 1: State level ceasefire 25 Aug 2012
Stage 2: Union level ceasefire 23 Mar 2013
Stage 3: NCA signed 15 Oct 2015

Official delegation team

PNLO Peace-Making Group

State-level: 7 members

Khun Myint Tun (Team leader)
Col. Khun Thurein (Deputy Leader)
Brig. Gen. Khun Ti Saung (Member)
Maj. Khun Kyaw Htin (Member)
Khun Ooh (Member)
Khun Tun Tin (Member)
Maj. Khun Swe Hto (Member)

Union level: 12 members

Col. Hkun Okker – Team Leader
Khun Myint Tun – Deputy Leader
Col. Khun Thurein – Member
Col. Aung Kyaw – Member
Khun Ooh – Member
Khun Tin Shwe Oo – Member

PNLO Peace-Making Group

Maj. Khun Swe Hto – Member
Khun Htee – Member
Khun Tun Tin – Member
Khun Thomus – Member
Nang Nwe Nwe – Member
Nang Myint – Member

Membership: PPST, PPWT, UPJDC, JMC

Liaison offices

1. Taunggyi (26/01/2013)
2. Thaton (21/08/2013)
3. Maukmai (08/12/2013)
4. Hsi Hseng (To be opened soon)

Alliances: PPST, PPWT/CT, UPDJC, JMC member.

Contact:
Website:
Facebook:
Email: [email protected]
Phone:

Meetings

#	Date	Location	Armed Group Rep	Govt Rep	Details
1	23/12/2011	Bangkok, Thailand	Khun Okkar	Aung Min	Informal peace meeting for both PNLO and UNFC leading to preliminary talks. PNLO Chairman Khun Okkar said that his group will observe talks involving other ethnic organization that are members of the UNFC and met with the government separately in order to study the issues being presented.
2	5/2/2012	Chiang Mai, Thailand	Khun Myint Tun, Khun Thurein, Khun Tun Tin	U Aung Min	Preliminary meeting Both sides plan to hold a formal state level meeting in the following month.
3	22/04/2012	By Phone	Khun Okkar	U Aung Min	Preliminary meeting Both sides plan to hold a formal state-level meeting in the following month.
4	27/06/2012	Bangkok, Thailand	Khun Okkar, Khun Myint Tun	U Aung Min	Preliminary meeting Agreement to sign a 7-point draft agreement. Other PNLO delegates: Khun Myint Tun Other govt delegates: Minister of Immigration and Population U Khin Yee
5	28/07/2012	Yangon	PNLO peace delegation led by Khun Myint Tun and Col. Khun Thurein	U Aung Min	Preliminary meeting Discussed ideas for the upcoming official meeting for State level ceasefire agreement. Meeting followed an exploratory trip by the PNLO peace delegation inside the country (Taunggyi, Thaton township).
6	25/08/2012	Taunggyi, Shan State	PNLO peace delegation led by Khun Myint Tun and Col. Khun Thurein	U Aung Min	State Level ceasefire agreement signed Other government delegates: union Ministers, representatives of the Lower house and Upper house, Shan state Chief Minister Sao Aung Myat and state government members, Commander of Eastern Command Maj. Gen. Soe Htut and senior military officers
7	23/03/2013	Myanmar Peace Center, Yangon	Col Khun Okkar, U Khun Myint Tun, Col Khun Thurein and CEC members	U Aung Min, Union Ministers U Khin Maung Soe, U Win Tun and U Ohn Myint, Shan State Chief Minister U Sao Aung Myat	Union Level The two sides reached an agreement in ten major sectors including relief, social affairs, anti-drug, and regional development, most important of all continued ceasefire. The two parties also agreed to continue political dialogue.
8	02/09/2013	Taunggyi	RCSS/SSA, PNO, SNLO	Shwe Mann, Thein Zaw, Gen. Aung Than Htut	Informal meeting Shan state government asked for 50% of Shan state revenue to spend in Shan state
9	20/09/2013	Taunggyi	RCSS, SSPP, PNLO	U Aung Min (UPWC)	Informal meeting U Aung Min met delegations from RCSS, SSPP and PNLO at the sidelines of the Shan-Kayah-Mon state Trust Building Conference between Sept 21-23, 2013.
10	5-6/09/2013	Naypyitaw	PNLO delegation led by Khun Myint Tun and Khun Tin Shwe Oo	U Aung Min, U Khin Yee, U Win Tun, U Soe Thein and U Than Htay	Informal meeting Both parties discussed the continued implementation of union level peace agreements, nationwide ceasefire, participating in national census.

Developments

State level ceasefire agreement signed on Aug 25, 2012 and Union level ceasefire agreement signed on March 23, 2013
Agreed to open liaison offices – Taunggyi, Thahton, Maukmai, and Hsi Hseng and Mauk Mai
Nationwide ceasefire will only be done through the NCCT
PNLO and Myanmar government will continue to hold informal meetings in the pursuit of peace

Military

to maintain the location of PNLO/ PNLA troops
both sides agreed to be positioned at designated areas
both sides agreed not to take arms to other regions except in designated areas
discussions will take place regarding any violations of the signed in the code of conduct
to jointly manage food, clothing and shelter for troops

Economic

cooperate on agricultural projects

Political

To cooperate in establishing Pa-Oh media *requested setting up an independent Pa-Oh news and media organization
cooperate on public security *22/07/2012: As per the invitation from U Aung Min, seven members from PNLO’s peace delegation visited Myanmar for ten days from July 22 -31 to hold several consultation meetings with individuals, the state Pa-Oh political parties, religious leaders, and Pa-Oh activists. They visited PNO patron U Aung Kham Hte, as well as the PNO chairman and other PNO senior leaders; held consultation meetings with Pa-Oh CBOs and CSOs at the PNO headquarters, and met with the abbot of Taung Kyaung Kyi monastery; traveled to Thaton Township in Mon state to hold several consultation meetings with the Pa-Oh community, senior Pa-Oh monks, and National League for Democracy Thaton (NLD-Thaton).