An interview with Mai Naing Gaung Zar, Secretary of the TPCC, regarding the organizations involved in the restructuring of the Ta’ang Political Consultative Committee (TPCC) into the Ta’ang Land Council (TLC), their responsibilities, and the plans for the formation of a people’s government during the revolutionary period.
The Ta’ang Political Consultative Council (TPCC) has announced plans to establish a people’s revolutionary government in 2025, composed of appropriate representatives of the public, in territories liberated from the military junta during “Operation 1027,” led by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and its allies. The TPCC aims to form this government as swiftly as possible.
At a high-level political meeting held from 1-3 June, the TPCC decided to establish the Ta’ang Land Council (TLC) as the highest political authority during the revolutionary period, according to a statement released on 9 June.
The TPCC, originally formed on 24 March 2021, includes the Ta’ang National Party (TNP), the Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA), and Ta’ang (Palaung) civil society organizations. The TLC has been restructured to oversee three key sectors: executive, legislative, and judiciary, according to the statement.
The newly formed TLC is chaired by General Tar Aik Bong, the leader of the TNLA. Lway Moe Kham from the TPCC serves as Vice-Chair 1, Tar Aye Maung from the TNP as Vice-Chair 2, with four additional members, a secretary, and a joint secretary, totaling nine members, including four women.
Shan News spoke with TPCC secretary Mai Naing Gawng Zar regarding the organizations involved, responsibilities, and plans for forming a people’s government during the revolutionary period.
Q: What kind of organization is the newly formed Ta’ang Land Council (TLC)? Which organizations and individuals are leading in this formation?
A: The TLC is the highest political authority. It is a council formed to oversee and lead three key sectors: executive, legislative, and judiciary. It consists of representatives from three groups—the Ta’ang National Party (TNP), the Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA), and Ta’ang civil society organizations.
Q: Since the TLC will serve as the highest political authority during the revolutionary period, how are its responsibilities divided?
A: The primary responsibilities include leading the formation of the revolutionary government, overseeing the three key sectors—executive, legislative and judiciary—and guiding the political leadership role of the Ta’ang people.
Q: You mentioned that the TLC has been restructured to oversee the three main sectors. What additional departments are planned to be established in the future?
A: It’s hard to say which departments will be formed at this stage. Everything will proceed under the TLC’s leadership. Broadly speaking, we plan to establish all the necessary departments that a revolutionary government should have.
Q: Based on the territories cleared of the military junta during “Operation 1027” led by the TNLA and its allies, you plan to form a people’s revolutionary government in 2025. Which towns or territorial boundaries will this primarily cover?
A: Roughly speaking, it includes the townships controlled by the PSLF/TNLA during the phases of “Operation 1027”.
Q: We’ve heard that there are strong agreements between the National Unity Government (NUG) and TPCC, and now the TLC has stated it will work with resistance forces in the country to build a federal union. Does this refer to the NUG, and why?
A: I’m not sure where you heard that, and we’d actually like to know ourselves what these supposed strong agreements are. To clarify, there are no solid agreements between the NUG and TPCC yet. As for how we’ll move forward with cooperation in this revolution, that will be led by the TLC.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add?
A: Yes, this is the peak of the revolution. To achieve our final victory and bring down the terrorist junta, we resistance forces need to work together with unified strength, leadership, and action. At the same time, the military junta is preparing to hold a sham election. So, it’s important that our people do their part in this revolution and resist. If we resistance forces and the people unite our strengths, I believe victory will be achieved as quickly as possible. We’ll likely face many challenges and obstacles at this stage. So, as a final note, I urge everyone to move forward with vigilance. Thank you.
Reported by Shan News.