The Pa-O National Liberation Army (PNLA) states that Pa-O revolutionary organizations are working on policies to prevent conflict among Pa-O nationals during the current spring revolution and are also adhering to the principle of self-defense.
He spoke about the ongoing military conflict between Pa-O revolutionary organizations— Pa-O National Liberation Organization/ Pa-O National Liberation Army (PNLO/PNLA) and Pa-O National Federal Council (PNFC)— and the Pa-O militia group, Pa-O National Organization/ Pa-O National Army (PNO/PNA), which is currently cooperating with the military council.
Colonel Khun Aung Mann, General Secretary of PNLO/PNLA, said: “We have established a policy to ensure there is no conflict among the Pa-O people. The main focus is that we firmly adhere to the principle of self-defense.”
The PNLO/PNLA also stated that it will take coordinated action to address the situation of invasions and attacks on PNLO/PNLA-controlled areas by the military council-backed Pa-O militia, PNO/PNA.
Khun Htoo Wai, Secretary-2 of the PNFC, said: “I would like the armed groups to resolve the issue through negotiation rather than armed struggle among our Pa-O nationals if the PNO/PNA militia invades our territory.”
General Secretary Colonel Khun Aung Mann said that if they are attacked again, even while negotiations are ongoing, they will retaliate.
“If they come to attack us, we will fight back under the banner of resisting the military dictatorship. We will not target the PNO. Our response will be framed as an attack on the military dictatorship and the military council,” he said.
PNFC Secretary-2 Khun Wai Htoo said: “We would cooperate with allied revolutionary organizations in the fight against it.”
“Given the current situation, our PNFC and PNLO/PNLA will defend themselves based on the principle of self-defense, in collaboration with allied resistance forces, if the opposing side initiates an invasion through armed struggle,” he said.
The two sides have remained in military tension since the military council and the PNO/PNA militia launched an offensive on 20 November against Ho Nam village, where the PNLA camp is located.
“Currently, they are conducting an offensive in our territory. While the fighting has calmed, there is still military tension, along with exchanges of shelling and drone attacks,” he said.
He said that the PNFC and PNLO have been working together since 11 December 2021, when the PNFC was formed.
Currently, these groups announced on 11 December that they will continue to cooperate in the fight against the military dictatorship and work towards the establishment of the Pa-O Self-Administered Zone.
Sent by NMG.
