Internal conflict in Myanmar

Internal conflict in Myanmar
Date 2 April 1948[2] – present (77 years, 2 weeks and 1 day) Location Myanmar (Burma) Status Ongoing Fighting since Myanmar separated from the United Kingdom in 1948 Major ethnic fighting in Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Rakhine, and Shan State In 2011, the military government stops their rule over Myanmar Numerous peace deals signed by many groups since 2011 Ongoing violence between government soldiers and rebels Territorial changes Partially independent "self-administered zones" created for ethnic minorities in 2010
Belligerents
Republic of the Union of Myanmar Myanmar Armed Forces Past combatants: Union of Burma (1948–1962) AFPFL Military governments (1962–2011) BSPP (1962–1988) SPDC (1988–2011) DKBA (1994–2010)	Rebel groups[note 1] ABSDF (since 1988) Arakan Army (since 2009) ARSA (since 2016) DKBA-5 (since 2010) KIO (since 1961) KIA KNU (since 1949) KNLA Karenni Army (since 1949) MNLA (since 1958) MNDAA (since 1989) NDAA (since 1989) SSAN (since 1971) SSAS (since 1996) TNLA (since 1992) UWSP (since 1989) UWSA ...and others Supported by:  China (alleged)[1] Past combatants: CPB (1948–1988) RFCP (1948–1978) PNO (1949–1991) Mujahideen (1950s–1970) SSA (1964–1976) WNA (1974–1997) MTA (1985–1996) SSNA (1995–2005) God's Army (1997–2006) VBSW (1999–2013) ...and others Supported by in the past:  Thailand (until 1995) Republic of China (1950–1961)  United States (1951–1953)
Commanders and leaders
Htin Kyaw (President of Myanmar) Sein Win (Minister of Defence) Min Aung Hlaing (Commander-in-Chief) Soe Win (Deputy Commander-in-Chief) Past commanders: Sao Shwe Thaik (1948–1952) U Nu (1948–1962) Ba U (1952–1957) Win Maung (1957–1962) Ne Win (1962–1981) San Yu (1981–1988) Saw Maung (1988–1992) Than Shwe (1992–2011) Wai Lwin (2011–2015) Thein Sein (2011–2016)	Twan Mrat Naing Ataullah abu Ammar Jununi (ARSA) Naw Zipporah Sein Saw Mutu Say Poe Pheung Kya-shin Yang Mao-liang Bao Youxiang Wei Hsueh-kang Past commanders: Thein Pe Myint (1948–52) Thakin Soe (POW) (1948–70) Saw Ba U Gyi † (1949–1950) Thakin Than Tun † (1952–68) Lo Hsing Han (POW) (1967–1973) Bo Mya (1976–2000) Khun Sa  (1985–1996) Bo Nat Khann Mway (1994–2016) Yawd Serk (1996–2014) Johnny and Luther Htoo  (1997–2006) Pado Phan (2000–2008)
Strength
492,000[note 2] Previous totals: 43,000 (1951) 289,000 (1995)[4]	600[5]–1,000[6] 1,500–2,500[7] 1,500[8] 8,000[9] 6,000 500–1,500 800+ (2,000 reserves)[10] 3,000–4,000[11] 4,000 8,000 6,000[12]–8,000 1,500+[13] 20,000[14]–25,000[15] Unknown numbers of various other factions Total: 70,000–80,000[16] Previous totals: 60,000–70,000 (1988)[17] 50,000 (1998)[18] 15,000 (2002)[19] 6,000 (1951) 4,000+ (1951) 14,000 (1950)
Casualties and losses
130,000[20]–250,000[21] total killed 600,000–1,000,000 displaced or fled abroad[22]

The internal conflict in Myanmar refers to fighting between government soldiers and rebels in Myanmar, which began shortly after the country, formerly known as Burma, separated from the United Kingdom in 1948. The government of Myanmar has fought different rebel groups from different ethnic minorities. The cause of the conflict is the government's refusal to give minority groups such as the communists and the Karen people the amount of political representation that they want. Since the beginning of the fighting, hundreds of thousands of civilians in Myanmar have been killed and millions have become refugees.

Related pages

• List of ongoing armed conflicts

Notes

1. Only active and/or large rebel groups are shown.
2. This number includes soldiers not actively fighting rebels. The armed forces also have an additional 72,000 reserve (backup) soldiers.^[3]

References

1. Richard Michael Gibson (2011). The Secret Army: Chiang Kai-shek and the Drug Warlords of the Golden Triangle. John Wiley and Sons. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-470-83018-5.
2. Lintner, Bertil; Wyatt (maps prepared by), David K. (1990). The rise and fall of the Communist Party of Burma (CPB). Ithaca, N.Y.: Southeast Asia Program, Cornell University. p. 14. ISBN 0877271232. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
3. International Institute for Strategic Studies; Hackett, James (ed.) (2010). The Military Balance 2010. London: Routledge, pp. 420-421. ISBN 1-85743-557-5.
4. Heppner & Becker, 2002: 18–19
5. "ABSDF". Myanmar Peace Monitor. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 10 March 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
6. Rotberg, Robert I. (June 1998). Burma. ISBN 0815791690.
7. "'I Want to Stress That We Are Not the Enemy'". 12 June 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
8. "DKBA-5". Myanmar Peace Monitor. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
9. AP, 4 May 2012, Myanmar state media report battles between government troops, Kachin rebels killed 31
10. "NMSP". Myanmar Peace Monitor. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 12 October 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
11. "47 Govt Troops Killed, Tens of Thousands Flee Heavy Fighting in Shan State". irrawaddy.org. 13 February 2015.
12. Burma center for Ethnic Studies, Jan. 2012, "Briefing Paper No. 1" http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs13/BCES-BP-01-ceasefires(en).pdf
13. "TNLA". Myanmar Peace Monitor. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 10 March 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
14. Johnson, Tim (29 August 2009). China Urges Burma to Bridle Ethnic Militia Uprising at Border. The Washington Post.
15. Davis, Anthony. "Wa army fielding new Chinese artillery, ATGMs". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
16. "Armed ethnic groups". Myanmar Peace Monitor. 10 January 2013.
17. Pavković, 2011: 476
18. Bertil Lintner (1999). Burma in revolt: opium and insurgency since 1948. Bangkok: Silkworm Press. ISBN 978-974-7100-78-5.
19. Myanmar: Armed forces. Encyclopedia of the Nations.
20. "Modern Conflicts - Death Tolls .pdf" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
21. "De re militari: muertos en Guerras, Dictaduras y Genocidios". Retrieved 6 October 2014.
22. Janie Hampton (2012). Internally Displaced People: A Global Survey. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-136-54705-8.