SUMMARY
MTA (Mong Tai Army) was formed in 1985, through the merger of two nationalist paramilitary groups, SUA (Shan United Army) and the Moh Heng-faction of TRC. Both these groups, while nominally fighting for the independence of Shan from Burma, were also functioning as private armies of two warlords (Khun Sa, respectively Moh Heng), both heavily involved in the drug trade.
After the formation of MTA, the group managed to expand the territory under its control. By 1989, MTA was in control of a large part of the territory located along the Thai border, in the so-called Golden Triangle, one of the largest opium-producing regions in the world. At that point in time, MTA was able to muster approximately 25 000 persons, controlled a large part of Shan State and was able to control the arms trade between the Thai border and places further inland such as the camps of KIO (Kachin Independence Organisation).
After the 1989 breakdown of CPB (Communist Party of Burma), the other large insurgent group present in Shan State, the resulting factions, mainly formed along ethnic lines, chose either to cooperate with the forces of the Government of Myanmar (Burma) (known also as SLORC - the State Law and Order Restoration Council, and after 1997 as SPDC – State Peace and Development Council) or to join the ranks of MTA. As such, many smaller groups accepted to join the ranks of MTA, ignoring the drug trade in the hopes of creating a strong Shan force. During this period, the largest and most powerful CPB splinter, UWSA (United Wa State Army) became MTAs main opponent, both militarily, as UWSA had signed a ceasefire with the government, and in the competition for the drugs trade.
In 1993, the Government of Myanmar (Burma) launched an offensive against MTA alongside the Thai Border. This determined the leader Khun Sa to convene an assembly in MTAs headquarters at Homong, with the goal of proclaiming the independence of Shan State. Further intensified fighting with the Government of Myanmar and MTA took place in May 1994 and March 1995, and MTA lost significant forces as well as some territory. Further, in August 1995, a splinter group, SSNA (Shan State National Army) left MTA, claiming that the fight for Shan independence was just a cover for MTAs involvement in the drug trade. The killing blow for the group, however, took place in September 1995, when an agreement between the Thai and the Myanmarese (Burmese) governments on border control blocked most of the weapons supply and refuge routes for MTA. Khun Sa was thus forced to negotiate a surrender with the Government, and, in January 1996, SLORC forces entered Homong, with thousands of former MTA members surrendering to the army. Some remnants of MTA continued to fight, and, in 1997, joined forces with SSNA to form SSA-S (Shan State Army - South Command).
From its formation in 1985, the leader of MTA was Khun Sa. A powerful warlord, deeply involved in the opium and heroin trade, he was wanted by the Government of the United States for drug-related charges. After his surrender to SLORC, he was not only pardoned, but also declared an honoured elder.
MTA has fought the Government of Burma from its creation in 1985 until its demise in early 1996, being thus active in the state-based conflict of Myanmar (Shan), available in the database. In the state-based category of organised violence MTA is coded as an active actor between 1993 and 1995.
MTA has been involved in the intra-state and non-state categories of UCDP organised violence.
