Dossier: Terrorist Groups Active in Myanmar

Keywords: Myanmar terrorism, ARSA, Arakan Army, United Wa State Army, Kachin Independence Army, NSCN-K, insurgency, ethnic conflict, security studies, political instability

Hashtags: #MyanmarConflict #TerrorismResearch #PhDStudies #InternationalSecurity #CounterTerrorism #EthnicConflict #SecurityAnalysis #InsurgencyStudies #GlobalSecurity #Research

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This article is part of my ongoing research for my PhD in International Security, focusing on terrorism and insurgencies in Southeast Asia. Insights from this research are invaluable for developing a deeper understanding of the security challenges facing the region, particularly within the context of Myanmar’s fragile political landscape.

Country Overview:

Myanmar (formerly Burma) has long grappled with ethnic conflicts and political instability, particularly following the 2021 military coup that ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The country’s complex history of ethnic divisions, paired with systemic marginalization of various minority groups, has provided fertile ground for insurgent and terrorist organizations to flourish. Many of these groups are tied to ethnic insurgencies or regional political goals, further complicated by the national government’s repressive tactics.

1. Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA)

• Origins: ARSA, initially known as Harakah al-Yaqin, emerged in 2016 as an insurgent group representing the Rohingya Muslim minority in Rakhine State. The group was formed in response to the longstanding oppression of the Rohingya by Myanmar’s government and military forces. ARSA is said to have connections with the Rohingya diaspora, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where several leaders are based (International Crisis Group, 2016).

• Leadership: Ata Ullah, a Rohingya man born in Pakistan and raised in Saudi Arabia, is believed to lead ARSA (ICG, 2016).

• Objectives: ARSA aims to defend the Rohingya people from government oppression and seeks autonomy for the Rohingya in Rakhine State (BBC, 2017).

• Tactics: The group conducts insurgent attacks against Myanmar security forces, primarily targeting police and military outposts. ARSA has also been implicated in using guerrilla warfare tactics such as ambushes and assaults on remote installations (Human Rights Watch, 2017).

• Notable Incidents: On August 25, 2017, ARSA launched coordinated attacks on 30 police posts and an army base, which triggered a violent crackdown by the military. This event led to mass displacement, with over 700,000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh (Amnesty International, 2018).

• Current Status: ARSA remains active in the border regions between Myanmar and Bangladesh, though its operational capacity is limited due to internal disorganization and international pressure (ICG, 2020).

2. United Wa State Army (UWSA)

• Origins: The United Wa State Army was established in 1989 from the remnants of the Communist Party of Burma. The group represents the Wa ethnic minority, residing in the autonomous Wa region along Myanmar’s northeastern border with China (Steinberg, 2013).

• Leadership: Bao Youxiang is the current leader of the UWSA (Linter, 2015).

• Objectives: While UWSA is primarily focused on maintaining autonomy in the Wa region, the group is heavily involved in narcotics trafficking and arms smuggling, which helps fund its activities (Steinberg, 2013).

• Tactics: UWSA operates as a heavily armed militia, controlling significant territory within the Wa Autonomous Region. It has not been directly involved in terrorism against civilians but engages in illicit trade and maintains a strong military presence (Bertil, 2015).

• International Links: UWSA is believed to receive support from China, including arms and military equipment. Despite this, it does not have any known links to global terrorist organizations (Linter, 2015).

• Current Status: UWSA remains a significant force in northeastern Myanmar, operating independently of the central government while maintaining its stronghold in the Wa region (ICG, 2019).

3. Arakan Army (AA)

• Origins: Founded in 2009, the Arakan Army (AA) is an ethnic insurgent group composed of Rakhine Buddhists. Its formation was driven by the desire for greater autonomy for the Rakhine people and resistance to government control in Rakhine State (International Crisis Group, 2019).

• Leadership: The AA is led by Major General Tun Myat Naing (ICG, 2019).

• Objectives: The AA’s primary goal is self-determination for the Rakhine people, with a broader aim of establishing a federal system in Myanmar that would allow for greater autonomy for ethnic minorities (Jolliffe, 2021).

• Tactics: The AA employs guerrilla warfare tactics, often attacking Myanmar military forces and government installations. The group has been accused of conducting operations that indirectly harm civilians, though they deny targeting non-combatants (ICG, 2020).

• Notable Incidents: AA has been involved in numerous clashes with Myanmar’s military, particularly in the years leading up to the 2021 coup. The conflict has resulted in widespread displacement and a humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State (Al Jazeera, 2020).

• Current Status: The AA remains one of Myanmar’s most active insurgent groups, frequently clashing with the military in Rakhine State and commanding widespread support from the local population (Jolliffe, 2021).

4. Kachin Independence Army (KIA)

• Origins: The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) was formed in 1961 as the military wing of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), representing the Kachin ethnic minority in northern Myanmar (Smith, 1999).

• Leadership: The KIA is led by N’Ban La, the chairman of the Kachin Independence Organization (Smith, 1999).

• Objectives: KIA advocates for greater autonomy for the Kachin people and the establishment of a federal system within Myanmar that would give more control to ethnic groups over their territories (Callahan, 2003).

• Tactics: The KIA is known for its use of guerrilla warfare, utilizing ambushes and IEDs against Myanmar’s military. The group has also been implicated in the drug trade, which funds its insurgency (Smith, 1999).

• Notable Incidents: The KIA has been involved in some of the longest-running conflicts in Myanmar, with intermittent ceasefires often breaking down. Recent confrontations have escalated following the military coup in 2021 (Al Jazeera, 2021).

• Current Status: The KIA continues to be a formidable force in northern Myanmar, regularly engaging in skirmishes with the military and operating within Kachin State (Smith, 1999).

5. National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K)

• Origins: The NSCN-K was founded in 1988 after splitting from the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN). It is composed primarily of Naga ethnic insurgents operating in both Myanmar and India (Baruah, 2003).

• Leadership: The group was led by S.S. Khaplang until his death in 2017. Following his passing, the NSCN-K experienced internal divisions but continues to operate under new leadership (The Hindu, 2017).

• Objectives: NSCN-K seeks to establish an independent state for the Naga people, encompassing areas in both Myanmar and India, known as Nagalim (Baruah, 2003).

• Tactics: The group is known for conducting guerrilla-style attacks, primarily targeting Indian security forces in cross-border operations. It also engages in extortion and arms smuggling (ICG, 2015).

• International Links: NSCN-K has not been conclusively linked to international terrorist organizations but has longstanding ties to regional insurgent groups and operates within smuggling networks (Baruah, 2003).

• Current Status: Despite internal fractures, NSCN-K continues to operate in the border regions between India and Myanmar, though its influence has diminished since Khaplang’s death (The Hindu, 2017).

References:

• Amnesty International. (2018). Rohingya Crisis Explained.

• Al Jazeera. (2020). Myanmar’s Rakhine State: Clashes Intensify.

• Al Jazeera. (2021). Myanmar Coup and the Rise of Ethnic Armed Groups.

• Baruah, S. (2003). Ethnic Conflicts in the Northeastern Frontier of India.

• BBC. (2017). Who Are the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army?.

• Callahan, M. (2003). Making Enemies: War and State Building in Burma.

• Human Rights Watch. (2017). Burma: Military Committed Crimes Against Humanity.

• International Crisis Group (ICG). (2015). The Naga Insurgency: A Conflict Analysis.

• International Crisis Group (ICG). (2016). Myanmar: A New Muslim Insurgency in Rakhine State.

• International Crisis Group (ICG). (2019). The Arakan Army and Myanmar’s Unsettled Frontier.

• International Crisis Group (ICG). (2020). Myanmar Conflict Escalates in Rakhine State.

• Jolliffe, K. (2021). Ethnic Armed Conflict in Myanmar.

• Linter, B. (2015). Burmese Shadow Government and the Wa Army.

• Smith, M. (1999). Burma: Insurgency and the Politics of Ethnicity.

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