On September 2, the Myanmar military officially labeled three major ethnic armed groups as “terrorist” organizations. The groups affected by this designation are the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and the Arakan Army. This decision was reported by the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar on Wednesday.
Under Myanmar’s Anti-Terror Law, any membership or contact with groups designated as “terrorist” is strictly prohibited. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the military’s State Administration Council (SAC), stated, “Those who contact these terrorists are also committing terror acts.”
The three armed groups—Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and Arakan Army—formed the Three Brotherhood Alliance and launched a significant offensive towards the end of last year. This campaign has intensified efforts to oust the generals who took power in the February 2021 coup.
Their operations have expanded into regions of Myanmar near China and Thailand, as well as in far western Rakhine. According to Crisis Group, by the end of August, the Arakan Army appeared to control territory in Rakhine with a population of around one million people.
The People’s Defence Forces (PDFs), comprised of civilians who have taken up arms against the military, have made significant advances in the central Mandalay region.
Formed in 2021 by the National Unity Government (NUG) of elected officials and activists in response to the military’s violent crackdown on mass protests, the PDFs have been actively resisting military forces. The SAC labeled the NUG a “terrorist” organization in May 2021, while the NUG has similarly branded the military as “terrorists.”
The Arakan Army, previously designated a “terrorist” group by the Aung San Suu Kyi-led government, had its label removed by the military two months after the coup. The military initially lifted the designation due to a ceasefire agreement with the group, aimed at fostering peace, although the truce eventually collapsed.
According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a local monitoring group, 5,599 people have been killed since the coup, and over 20,000 individuals are currently imprisoned.
