Myanmar military labels key ethnic armed groups’ terrorist’ organizations

NAPYIDAW, MYANMAR – The Myanmar military has labeled three major ethnic armed groups that have pushed across large areas of northern and western Myanmar in the last year as “terrorist” groups.

According to the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar on Wednesday, the designation, passed on September 2, applies to the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and Arakan Army.

The Anti-Terror Law prohibits membership and contact with “terrorist” organizations.

“Those who contact these terrorists are also committing terrorist acts,” Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the military’s State Administration Council (SAC), said.
The armed factions formed the Three Brotherhood Alliance to launch a major offensive near the end of last year, giving new impetus to efforts to depose the generals who took power in a February 2021 coup.

Their fighters have moved into areas of Myanmar bordering China and Thailand, as well as far western Rakhine.

At the end of August, the Arakan Army appeared to control the area, with a population of approximately one million people.

People’s Defence Forces (PDFs), people who have taken up arms against the military, have also made significant advances, particularly in the central Mandalay region.

The National Unity Government (NUG), which consists of elected politicians and activists, established the PDFs in 2021 after the military used force to quell massive protests.

The SAC labeled the NUG as a “terrorist” group in May 2021, and the NUG declared the military as “terrorists.”

The Arakan Army, like the military, has been accused of human rights violations and was formerly labeled a “terrorist” organization by Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government.

Two months after the coup, the military revoked the designation, claiming that the organization with which it had a truce at the time was assisting in establishing peace. The truce eventually ended.

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