The Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF) and its armed wing, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), have stated that after disputes arose with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and some allies regarding controlled territories, they intend to find a solution through dialogue.
On June 24, excerpts from an interview with Brigadier General Tar Bone Kyaw, the secretary general of PSLF/TNLA, were released, in which he discussed TNLA's political developments and its relations with other armed groups, including allies.
“"We and the KIA can be considered strong allies who have worked together for many years, with significant cooperation between our organizations at various levels. Recently, there have been some disputes between us, but we are committed to resolving these issues through dialogues. We are working diligently to facilitate a plenary meeting between the leaders of both sides as soon as possible”, he elaborated.
He also mentioned that the rift arose from a certain issue between formidable allies, and therefore, there is no reason it cannot be resolved through political means.
However, scheduling conflicts have prevented the leaders of both sides from meeting and negotiating until now.
“At the moment, the meeting between the two sides has not yet occurred. It is crucial to prevent the current dispute from escalating at the lower levels. While pursuing our organization's political goals, we must also carefully address any unwanted tensions with our allies. We have instructed our commanders, troops, and administrative staff to focus on these priorities”, General Tar Bone Kyaw added.
Following the renowned 'Operation 1027' in northern Shan State, TNLA faced occasional territorial disputes not only with KIA but also with other allies like the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).
“Of course, there have been some minor frictions at the lower levels, but as I mentioned earlier, these are simply differences of opinion among allies. The leaders from both sides meet regularly. It's crucial to prevent these disputes from escalating. I want to emphasize that since this is a matter between allies, it's entirely manageable and there's no need for concern”, General Tar Bone Kyaw said.
TNLA is grappling with territorial disputes involving KIA in townships such as Mantong, Mongmit (Momeik), Mabein, Kutkai, and also encountering similar issues with SSPP in Namhkam. TNLA is also facing disputes with MNDAA in Kutkai.
