The New Democratic Army – Kachin (Burmese: ကချင်ဒီမိုကရေစီသစ် တပ်မတော်; abbreviated NDA-K), officially known as the Kachin Border Guard Force, is an armed insurgent group that operated in Kachin State, Myanmar. After signing a ceasefire agreement with the military of Myanmar in 1989, it was subsequently converted into a pro-Tatmadaw militia, eventually officially being converted into a Border Guard Force in November 2009.[1][3][4]
| New Democratic Army – Kachin | |
|---|---|
| ကချင်ဒီမိုကရေစီသစ် တပ်မတော် | |
 Flag of the NDA-K | |
| Leaders | Zahkung Ting Ying (a.k.a. S'Khon Tein Yein) Layawk Zelum Ying Zelum |
| Dates of operation | 1989–2009 (As NDA-K) 2009 – 2024 (As BGF) |
| Headquarters | Pangwa, Kachin State |
| Active regions | Kachin State, Myanmar Myanmar-China border |
| Ideology | Kachin nationalism Communism[1] |
| Size | 200–300; 700 (peak)[1] |
| Allies |  Myanmar
|
| Opponents | State opponents
 Kachin Independence Army[2] |
| Battles and wars | Internal conflict in Myanmar |
History
editThe NDA-K was founded in 1989 by former Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) officers Zahkung Ting Ying (a.k.a. S'Khon Tein Yein), Layawk Zelum, and Ying Zelum, when they led a communist faction of 700 soldiers that split from the KIO due to its political differences.[1][2] In the same year, the group agreed to a ceasefire with the government, and it de facto operated under the Tatmadaw's command as a "special regional task force".[1]
The group received a budget, rations, and supplies from the government. Additionally, 600 soldiers were paid by the government as part of the Myanmar Police Force.[1] In November 2009, the group became one of the first insurgent groups under a ceasefire agreement to convert into a "border guard force". Some members have since joined the Kachin State Progressive Party (KSPP) to contest in the 2010 general election.[3]
On 15 October 2024, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) captured BGF Battalion 1002 from the NDA-K following a week of fighting. It was one of three BGF Battalions held by the NDA-K.[5]
On 21 October, the KIA captured the town of Pang War from the NDA-K.[6]
On 22 October, the KIA captured another BGF Battalion, Battalion 1003, near Kanpaikti, leaving only one Battalion left, Battalion 1001.[7][8] On 23 October, the KIA sealed off the home of NDA-K leader Zahkung Ting Ying in Pang War. Attempts to locate him in Pang War were unsuccessful.[9]
On 31 October, KIA and PDF forces capture the last BGF Battalion 1001 HQ near Phimaw, Myitkyina District. NDA-K and allied Junta troops then fled to the Chinese border town of Ganfai.[10]
On 20 November, the KIA captured Kanpaikti, the final stronghold of the BGF.[11] The town's capture leaves only the city of Muse as the last border crossing along the China/Myanmar border under Junta control.[11]
The KIA's victory at Kanpaikti has rendered the NDA-K virtually completely defeated.[12]
Splinter group
editA Rawang leader Lauban Tanggu Dang (Ah Dang; Burmese: တန်ဂူးတန်) established the Rebellion Resistance Force from the NDA-K group.[13]
Leader
editZahkung Ting Ying is a Ngochang from the Yunnan Frontier.[citation needed] In 1968, he split from Kachin Independence Army and joined the Communist Party of Burma and established the CPB's 101 War Zone with Zaluman, another KIA defector.[14][15] In 2016, he was expelled from the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw for violating election laws while campaigning.[16]
Illegal rare-earth mining
editIllegal rare earth mining has surged in NDA-K held areas bordering China following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état.[17][18] In April 2021, 100 rare earth mines were found in the area controlled by the militia.[19] As the Chinese government cracked down on domestic rare earth mining, it has outsourced the destructive mining to Kachin State.[20] As of March 2022[update], 2,700 mining collection pools scattered across 300 separate locations were found in Kachin State, encompassing the area of Singapore, and an exponential increase from 2016.[20] Zakhung Ting Ying and other militia leaders have profited from this extractive industry.[20] In December 2021, US$200 million in rare earths were exported to China.[20]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Mizzimia Archive – NDA-K". Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
- ^ a b NDA-K's Ting Ying declares Burma army will wipeout KIA Archived October 28, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Global Security – KachinArchived October 13, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Asian Correspondent – NDA-K: Burma needs to value peace talks in Kachin State
- ^ "Myanmar Junta-Allied Border Battalion Falls in Kachin Rare Earth Hub".
- ^ "China Shuts Border as Kachin Fighters 'Seize Pangwa'".
- ^ https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/war-against-the-junta/kachin-resistance-attacks-another-stronghold-of-pro-junta-forces.html
- ^ "KIA captures junta Border Guard Force battalion near Kanpiketi" the Irrawaddy via Instagram
- ^ "KIA Seals Off House of Myanmar Junta-Allied Warlord After Seizing Pangwa".
- ^ Seizes Final Border Force HQ Despite Chinese Pressure
- ^ a b Van Linge, Thomas (20 November 2024). "this morning KIA resistance forces captured the village of Kan Paik Ti, giving them control over the final border crossing in Kachin state". x.com. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ Maung, Min (21 November 2024). "Kachin fighters take town from Myanmar military, border guard force". Myanmar Now. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ^ More on the Rebellion Resistance Force. Nicholas Farrelly. September 27, 2007. New Mandala. Archived June 26, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ http://jinghpawkasa.blogspot.com/2009/07/zahkung-ting-ying.html "Zawhkung Ting Ying" Jinghpaw Kasa, 2009 Archived January 14, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Lintner, B. The Rise and fall of the Communist party of Burma, SEAP Publications, 1990, p25
- ^ Nyan Hlaing Lynn,June 25, 2016,Kachin militia leader expelled from Union Parliament, Frontier. https://frontiermyanmar.net/en/kachin-militia-leader-expelled-from-union-parliament Archived November 28, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Illegal rare earth mining harms environment in Myanmar's Kachin state". Radio Free Asia. Archived from the original on 15 April 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "Rare Earths in Myanmar: Unobtanium?". The Diplomat. 14 June 2021. Archived from the original on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "Illegal Rare Earth Mines on China Border Multiply Since Myanmar's Coup". The Irrawaddy. 26 April 2021. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Myanmar's poisoned mountains". Global Witness. 9 August 2022. Archived from the original on 14 April 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2023.