General information
Part of Conflict: Myanmar (Burma): Shan
Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 1985-12-31
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: After several large-scale government offensives in the early 1980s, virtually the only remaining ethnic forces were the "warlord-led" SUA (Shan United Army, led by Khun Sa) and the faction of SURA (Shan United Revolutionary Army) led by Moh Heng (a.k.a. Gon Jerng). Both of these warlords were heavily involved in large-scale drug trafficking, originally established by Chinese KMT (Kuomintang) remnants and the CIA in 1950-61.
In 1984, Moh Heng broke off his alliance with the last KMT remnants and a year later joined merged with SUA to form the MTA. They then swiftly expanded their territory along the Thai border by attacking weaker insurgent forces such as the SSPP (Shan State Progress Party) and the PNO (Pao National Organisation).
Comment on date of first use of armed force: missing
First Battle Related Death: 1985-01-01
Comment on First Battle Related Death: missing
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1985-12-31
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: missing
Conflict issues
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1985
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Myanmar (Burma)): n/a
Side B (MTA): n/a
1986
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Myanmar (Burma)): n/a
Side B (MTA): n/a
1987
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Myanmar (Burma)): n/a
Side B (MTA): n/a
1988
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Myanmar (Burma)): n/a
Side B (MTA): n/a
1990
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Myanmar (Burma)): n/a
Side B (MTA): n/a
1993
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 230 |
| Best | 130 |
| Low | 130 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Myanmar (Burma)): n/a
Side B (MTA): n/a
1994
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 984 |
| Best | 526 |
| Low | 526 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Myanmar (Burma)): n/a
Side B (MTA): n/a
1995
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 332 |
| Best | 174 |
| Low | 174 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Myanmar (Burma)): n/a
Side B (MTA): n/a
1996
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 3 |
| Best | 3 |
| Low | 3 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Myanmar (Burma)): n/a
Side B (MTA): n/a
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1985 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: YES
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1986 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: YES
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1987 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: YES
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1988 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: YES
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1990 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: In November, it was reported that parts of the SSA (Shan State Army) had decided to join the MTA in its fighting with the UWSA (United Wa State Army). There were clear indications that the UWSA were supported by the Myanmarese government.
The Myanmarese government claimed that Khun Sa kept his army merely to protect his heroin facturing and trade. Khun Sa himself responded by saying he was the head of the Shan independence movement and the drug business was only a means to support the struggle.
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1993 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1994 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: The government asked the UWSA to contribute more to the offensives against the MTA in the Shan conflict, and more than 2 000 men moved from UWSA northern area to the UWSA southern military command.
In May, the government launched a large-scale offensive in cooperation with the UWSA troops.
In May, it was also reported that there was cooperation between MTA and other ethnic groups in several battles. No information on whether these Karen, Wa, Haw, and Tai Yai were representing any specific organisations was mentioned.
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1995 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: The UWSA (United Wa State Army) kept sending more troops into the conflict, fighting on the side of the government against MTA. As many as 5 000 men had come from the Wa northern territory.
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiations: In the end of the year, negotiations were held between the government and Khun Sa, leader of MTA. It was reported in December that a ceasefire had been agreed and that the MTA would remain as a legal regional defence force in its territory.
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: Ceasefire
Date of termination: 1995-12-31
Comment on Termination: In the end of the year, negotiations were held between the government and Khun Sa, leader of MTA. It was reported in December that a ceasefire had been agreed and that the MTA would remain as a legal regional defence force in its territory.
Comment on Termination Date: In January 1996, government forces entered and took over the Khun Sa headquarters. At first it was unclear how the conflict had ended, but more details soon became clear. Khun Sa had made a deal with the Myanmarese government where he was allowed to retire in Yangon and pursue his legal business interests. There was still plenty of speculation about whether he still was involved in the drug trafficking business through proxies and family.
The remains of the MTA were supposed to either be integrated into the Myanmarese military, or to act as a regional defence force. As it happened, it seemed like most of them continued to fight for the Shan cause in the newly formed organisations SSNA (Shan State National Army) or SSA/s (Shan State Army/south).
The territory formerly held by MTA also became open for dispute. Immediately after the ceasefire was concluded, on 3 January 1996, Thailand and Myanmar started arguing over the exact location of the border.
The UWSA (United Wa State Army) that had helped the government against MTA, had reportedly been promised an expansion of their Wa autonomous area. When the government asked them to pull back, they simply refused and declared that they intended to stay. This led to a new, short-lived conflict between the Myanmarese government and the Wa minority.
1996 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: On 5 January, Khun Sa "surrendered" to the Myanmarese government. He were retired in an expensive villa in Yangoon, where he was allowed to pursue all his "legal business interests."
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiations: After Khun Sa had left the organisation, the remnants of MTA signed a ceasefire agreement with the Myanmar government.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
