SUMMARY

The Tai(-land) Revolutionary Council (TRC) was an ethnic Shan armed group, fighting the Myanmar government between 1984 and 1985. The TRC was formed when the Shan United Revolutionary Army (SURA), led by the former Shan State Army (SSA) leader Moh Heng, merged with part of the SSA. In 1985, the TRC subsequently merged with the Shan United Army (SUA), led by ‘opium king’ Khun Sa, to form the Mong Tai Army (MTA), which operated until Khun Sa’s surrender to state forces in 1996. During its brief history, the TRC was led by Moh Heng.

The TRC has its roots in the Shan nationalist movement which developed in the 1950s following the intervention of Burmese state forces against the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT), which had sought refuge in Shan state. A number of armed Shan groups were formed throughout the late 1950s and 1960s, most notably the SSA. The groups variously pursued different political and commercial interests, however, (including, for some, involvement in the opium trade) and failed to form a united opposition.

In 1985, the parts of TRC loyal to Moh Heng - largely comprised of ex-SURA cadres - left the group and merged with SUA (Shan United Army) to form MTA.