New Democratic Army – Kachin
| 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 – present (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 |
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 operates 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]
History
[edit]The 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 Pangwa from the NDA-K.[6]
On 22 October, the KIA captured another BGF Battalion, Battalion 1003, near Kanpiketi, 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 Pangwa. Attempts to locate him in Pangwa 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]
Splinter group
[edit]A Rawang leader Lauban Tanggu Dang (Ah Dang; Burmese: တန်ဂူးတန်) established the Rebellion Resistance Force from the NDA-K group.[11]
Leader
[edit]Zahkung 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.[12][13] In 2016, he was expelled from the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw for violating election laws while campaigning.[14]
Illegal rare-earth mining
[edit]Illegal rare earth mining has surged in NDA-K held areas bordering China following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état.[15][16] In April 2021, 100 rare earth mines were found in the area controlled by the militia.[17] As the Chinese government cracked down on domestic rare earth mining, it has outsourced the destructive mining to Kachin State.[18] 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.[18] Zakhung Ting Ying and other militia leaders have profited from this extractive industry.[18] In December 2021, US$200 million in rare earths were exported to China.[18]
See also
[edit]References
[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]
- ^ 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.