Alliance
United Wa State Army (UWSA), National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA), Arakan Army (AA)
Organization Name
Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF)
Armed Force
Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA)
Political Organization
Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF)
History in Brief
Established – January 1992
Headquarters – Namhsan Township
Areas of operation – Muse, Namhkan, Namhsan, Manton, Kutkai, Hseni, Namtu, Lashio, Kyaukme, and Mongmit in Shan State, and Mogok Township in Mandalay Region
Estimated strength – Around 10,000
Leaders – Gen. Tar Aik Bong (Chairperson, Central Committee Member), Lt. Gen. Tar Jok Jar (First Vice Chairperson, Central Committee Member), Maj. Gen. Tar Khu Lang (Second Vice Chairperson, Central Committee Member)
The PSLF/TNLA organization initially established a political wing before establishing an armed force. The Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF) was formed on January 12, 1992, in Manerplaw, the headquarters area of the Karen National Union (KNU). The PSLF was established by former Palaung State Liberation Army (PSLA) members who remained in KNU territory as liaison officers when the PSLA made the “Exchange of arms for peace” with the military regime.
The current leaders of the PSLF, Gen. Tar Aik Bong and Lt. Gen. Tar Jok Jar, were among those who established the PSLF. During the PSLA’s existence, Gen. Tar Aik Bong served at the Democratic Alliance of Burma (DAB) Joint Headquarters in Manerplaw on the Myanmar-Thailand border, while Lt. Gen. Tar Jok Jar served as a personal assistant and was a member of the communications staff. These were then the young officers of the PSLA. Later, the PSLF leaders, who were grouped on the Myanmar-Thailand border, decided that the Ta’ang (Palaung) ethnic people needed an armed force and established the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in 2009.
After the TNLA was formed, 42 Ta’ang youths were sent to the KIA in 2011 to receive military training in order to be able to infiltrate into northern Shan State. These 42 young people entered northern Shan State with 22 rifles they had received from the KIA. They now have seven brigades operating across nine townships in northern Shan State and one in Mandalay Region.
On October 27, 2023, the AA, MNDAA, and TNLA, as the Three Brotherhood Alliance (3BHA), jointly launched Operation 1027. As a result of the operation, the TNLA took control of seven townships: Namhkam, Kutkai, Manton, Namtu, Namhsan, Mongngawt, and Monglon. Conflicts continue between the Tatmadaw and the TNLA. The SAC declared martial law in Mantong, Namhsan, and Namtu Townships on March 4, 2024, despite no longer being in control of those areas. The TNLA is drafting a constitution for a new Ta’ang state to unite the towns they now control. The draft constitution has progressed to its third draft. The drafting process included representatives of the TNLA, the Ta’ang Political Consultative Council (TPCC), Ta’ang political leaders, Ta’ang members of parliament who won seats in the 2020 elections, civil society organizations, and Ta’ang political activists.
Areas under TNLA control are currently divided into five districts.
| No. | District | Areas included |
| 1 | Man Awng District | Muse-Namhkam Area |
| 2 | Ruili District (Om Ta Maw) | Manton-Mong Wee Area |
| 3 | Salween District (Om Khone) | Kutkai -Mong See – Monghum Area |
| 4 | Lashio District (Laso) | Lashio -Mong Yaw Area |
| 5 | Namhsan District (Om Yo) | Namhsan-Kyuakme-Mogok Area |
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP) are also active and operating bases in areas controlled by the TNLA, leading to territorial disputes and conflict.
Mission and Objectives
The PSLF/TNLA has three objectives and three political processes.
The three objectives are as follows:
(a) The liberation of the entire Ta’ang people from oppression
(b) The construction of a Ta’ang state that guarantees democracy and human rights
(c) The construction of a democratic federal union that guarantees the right of national self-determination
The three political processes are as follows:
(a) National liberation and formation of Ta’ang State
(b) The formation of national unity
(c) The formation of political institutions
Leaders and Central Committee Members
The PSLF/TNLA Central Executive Committee comprises 11 members, while the Central Committee consists of 27 members. The 11 members of the Central Executive Committee are listed in the table below.
| No. | Name | Title | Roles |
| 1 | Tar Aik Bon | General | Chairperson, Central Committee Member |
| 2 | Tar Jok Jar | Lieutenant General | First Vice Chairperson, Central Committee Member |
| 3 | Tar Khu Lang | Major General | Second Vice Chairperson, Central Committee Member |
| 4 | Tar Bone Kyaw | Major General | General Secretary, Central Committee Member |
| 5 | Tar Hol Plarng | Major General | Commander-in-Chief, Central Committee Member |
| 6 | Tar Om Tamao | Brigadier General | Joint Secretary 1, Central Committee Member |
| 7 | Tar Gu Jar | Brigadier General | Head of General Administration Department, Central Committee Member |
| 8 | Tar Parn La | Colonel | First Vice General Secretary, Central Committee Member |
| 9 | Tar Nor Rein | Brigadier General | Military Administration Department, Central Committee Member |
| 10 | Tar Lom Kyaw Mya | Brigadier General | Customs Department,Central Committee Member |
| 11 | Tar Kone Khree | Colonel | Chief of Police,Central Committee Member |
The PSLF has established 14 departments to run the military and administrative mechanisms: Defense, General Administration, Judiciary, Health, Finance, Commerce, Revenue, Alliances and Foreign Affairs, Information and Communication, Education, Women’s Development, Food Management and Supply, Agriculture and Livestock, Land and Forest Conservation. In addition, there are three working committees: the Political Discussion Working Committee, the Central Economic Committee, and the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Affairs Management Committee.
Ceasefires and Peace Process Participation
During President Thein Sein’s term, the TNLA was invited to discuss a ceasefire agreement and sent representatives to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) talks. However, the government and military continuously stated that the TNLA was a new armed group that had emerged during the term of democratic government, and that peace discussions would only take place if they surrendered their weapons. Discussions have therefore been frozen since 2015.
Since then, the TNLA and the military have been involved in frequent clashes in northern Shan State. Since 2016, the TNLA has become more powerful and has attacked military bases in urban areas. And from December 2018, the military has been discussing a ceasefire with the four members of Northern Alliance – Burma (NA-B): the TNLA, KIA, MNDAA, and AA.
Between December 2018 and December 2019, representatives of the four Northern Alliance members and peace representatives of the government and the military met at least five times to discuss preliminary ceasefire agreements. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic halted the discussions, and on 1 February 2021, the military staged a coup, ending any further discussions.
On October 27, 2023, the 3BHA of the AA, MNDAA, and TNLA launched Operation 1027. During the operation, the TNLA took control of seven towns. On January 12, 2024, through the mediation of China, the Haigeng Agreement was reached between the 3BHA and the SAC, which ended the operation. In June 2024, Operation 1027 resumed in a Second Phase, where Nawnghkio, Kyaukme, Mogok, Hsipaw, and Momeik were occupied by 3BHA forces.
Organization Participation
The PSLF/TNLA is an alliance member of the Northern Alliance (comprising the TNLA, AA, MNDAA, and KIA) and the Three Brotherhood Alliance (comprising the TNLA, AA, and MNDAA). The PSLF/TNLA is also a member of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC).
Political and Military Stance since the Coup
The TNLA and its allies issued a statement on March 30, 2021, regarding the widespread armed conflict in the country following the military coup. The statement said that the SAC must immediately stop its violence against the people and those opposing the regime. It also stated that they would cooperate with all ethnic people participating in the Spring Revolution.
The 3BHA, including the TNLA, has repeatedly declared unilateral ceasefires with the military since September 9, 2019. However, these ceasefires have been suspended since March 2021 due to the SAC’s violent crackdowns on civilians opposing the coup.
Although the TNLA did not express any clear stance against the SAC in the period initially following the coup, they have provided military training, weapons, and ammunition to young people who wanted to form new resistance forces. The TNLA has subsequently been assisting new resistance forces based in Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region, and Shan State, including the Mandalay People’s Defense Force (MDY-PDF).
Liaison Offices
None
Brigades
There are seven brigades under the TNLA: Brigades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, with 35 battalions organized under these brigades
Contact Information
Website: http://www.pslftnla.org/
