Arakan Liberation Party/Army (ALP/ALA)

Founded – 9 April 1967 (first time), 1 June 1974 (second time)

Headquarters – India-Myanmar border

Active Territories – Northern Arakan State and Karen State

Size – Around 100

Chair – Khaing Ye Khaing

Commander-in-Chief – Brig-Gen Khaing Min Soe

General Secretary – Khaing Kyaw Khaing

Although the ALP/ALA actively participated in the peace process after signing the NCA on 15 October 2015, the military coup on 1 February 2021 had a huge impact on the ALP. It resulted in a division within the ALP into two groups: one opposing the coup and advocating for continued dialogue with the junta while adhering to the NCA.

On 19 March 2023, the ALP announced that Daw Saw Mra Raza Lin, Vice-Chair of the ALP, assumed leadership and reorganized the party. This splinter group is engaging with the military, focusing on the NCA-led peace process, maintaining participation in the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST), and continuing representation of the ALP within the 7 – EAOs Alliance.

On 20 March 2023, Chairman Khaing Ye Khaing of the ALP declared the reorganization led by Daw Saw Mra Raza Lin illegal. On 1 September 2023, the ALP released its position statement on the NCA. In its statement, the ALP said following the military coup, almost all the processes of the NCA have come to a halt, and Myanmar’s hopes for peace have been shattered. Meanwhile, the meeting between Daw Saw Mra Raza Lin’s faction, which has split from the ALP, and the military, is unrelated to the ALP. 1

The ALP holds the belief that the NCA processes will not achieve the self-determination rights aspired by ethnic groups, nor will it effectively end the civil war and establish a federal democratic union. The ALP announced that it would continue to advance the armed revolution to shape the future of Arakan State by building national unity with revolutionary forces and political groups in Arakan State.

The ALP has experienced internal division due to disagreements over military and politics since the coup. Now, the ALP is now concentrating on the reconstruction of internal unity and is committed to participating in the revolution alongside revolutionary forces to bring an end to military dictatorship.

Clashes with the military

Clashes with the military During the three years of the Spring Revolution, there have been no clashes between the ALP/ALA and the military. There have been no joint military operations between the resistance forces and the ALP.

1 ALP’s position statement on NCA, ALP Information Bureau, 1 September 2023

Contact

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Reference: Deciphering Myanmar’s Peace Process – A Reference Guide (2023 – 2024)