Position statement by the MNDAA, TNLA, and AA, March 1, 2015
1. Using fighter planes, tanks and armored cars, Myanmar Tatmadaw (Army) has launched offensives against our ethnic armed resistance organizations in Kokang, Ta’ang etc. regions, which are regions of the indigenous nationalities in Northern Shan State, as if it were against a foreign aggression.
2. Due to increased tempo of armed conflicts between the two sides in the civil war, the majority of the ethnic nationality peoples of Kokang, Kachin, Shan, Ta’ang, Lahu, Lisu, Myanmar etc. have to bear the scourge of war more than ever. In areas where battles take place, Myanmar Tatmadaw troops are committing all kinds of human rights violations such as the burning down the ethnic peoples’ hearths and homes, confiscating their properties, killing the innocent civilians, raping their daughters etc.
3. We the ethnic armed resistance organizations reside and operate in our own areas and regions, in the struggle for our national political rights and in defense of our own peoples. We have never gone into Myanmar’s areas and regions for expansion and hostility. As Myanmar Tatmadaw is sending in more troops continually into our ethnic areas and regions, and launching ferocious military offensives, our ethnic forces are mutually assisting one another and fighting in order to stoutly defend against the bullying and domination by Myanmar forces.
4. Our ethnic resistance forces are participating actively in the NCCT negotiating team and endeavouring for the realization of Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). Though our organizations individually had called repeatedly for negotiation to reduce and cease armed clashes between the two sides, Tatmadaw had not accepted the calls, and continued to divide the ethnic organizations, by various means, and one-sidedly stood for the position laid down by the Myanmar military leaders.
5. For that reason, in Myanmar things are headed toward a situation where the fire of civil is bound to burn more fiercely. We jointly issue our position statement to declare that due to power madness and chauvinism of the Myanmar military leaders, Myanmar Tatmadaw, led by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, shall bear all the evil consequences of the civil war. Moreover, Operation Commander Lt. Gen. Aung Than Htut, the main director of the military operations, shall be held directly responsible for all the crimes and human rights violations that take place during military operations, in Northern Shan State.
Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army
Palaung State Liberation Front
Arakan Army
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