The Ta'ang National Liberation Army-TNLA

 Photo- Ta'ang National Liberation Army's resident or Activities Area's Map by TNLA

The Ta-ang National Liberation Army, which is a member of the UNFC, was originally created by remnants of the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF) after its ceasefire agreement with the Government in 1991.

Originally known as the Palaung National Force it was formed on 12th of January 1963. By 1976, the PNF was reformed as the Palaung State Liberation Army (PSLA) under the leadership of Chairperson Tar Khon Taung. The PSLA finally signed a ceasefire on the 21 April 1991 and was disarmed on 29 April 2005.

After the cease-fire agreement was signed between the PSLA and SPDC, remnants of the PSLA remained at Manerplaw the Karen National Unions’s Headquarters.

These units continued to fight with the Karen and other ethnic forces. The National Democratic Front supported the PSLA’s remaining units to form the PSLF on 12 January 1992 and they continued to mount joint operations against Government forces with the Wa National Organisation (WNO) on the Thai-Burma border.

In October 2009, the PSLF held its 3rd congress and formed the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). The TNLA was formed under the political wing of the PSLF. It started military activity in the Palaung area in 2011 with the training and support of the Kachin Independence Army.

The PSLF Chairman is Tar Aik Phone and the TNLA’s Commander-in-Chief is Tar Hul Plang.

According to the PSLF its aims and Objectives are:

=To obtain freedom for all Ta’ang Nationals from oppression.

=To form Ta’ang full autonomy that has a guarantee for Democracy and human rights.

=To oppose and fight against dictatorship and any form of racial discrimination

=To attain national equality and self-determination

=To establish a genuine federal union that guarantees autonomy.

It is currently active in northern Shan State and claims that it is able to field 1,400 troops. There were originally five battalions but this was expanded to seven:

B. 112 - KutKhai Township
B 256 - Namsan Township
B. 478 - Nam Kham Township
B. 367 - Man Tong Township
B. 717 - Moe Mit in of Kyak Mae.
B. 101 and B. 527 are special battalions1

According to its founder and Chairman, Tar Aik Phone, the group wants a nationwide ceasefire, political dialogue, and self-rule of Ta-ang areas as part of a greater Shan State.

Although the TNLA has had an unofficial meeting with U Aung Min, on 9 November 2012, on the side-lines of a UNFC meeting, the Government has not made any further attempt to bring the group to the negotiating table primarily due to its strength.

As a result the TNLA is currently rethinking its position in relation to the Kachin conflict and the future of the organisation table primarily due to its strength. As a result the TNLA is currently rethinking its position in relation to the Kachin conflict and the future of the organisation.


Source- http://www.burmaethnicstudies.net/
Read More- (Parties to the Conflict;KIO Supported Armed Groups in the Kachin Conflict)