Pa-O National Army

The Pa-O National Army (Burmese: ပအိုဝ်းအမျိုးသားတပ်မတော်; abbreviated PNA) was a Pa-O paramilitary group in Myanmar (Burma). It was established in 1949, and was the armed wing of the Pa-O National Organisation, which has since become a political party that now has seats in the government of Myanmar.[2][3] The PNA also has an informal alliance with the All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF) and the Karenni Army, in an attempt to prevent the spread of drug use and smuggling in their territory.

Pa-O National Army
ပအိုဝ်းအမျိုးသားတပ်မတော်
Flag of the Pa-O people, used by the PNA
Leaders	U Aung Kham Hti[1]
Dates of operation	1949–9 December 2009
Headquarters	Taunggyi, Shan State, Myanmar
Active regions	Pa-O Self-Administered Zone (controlled territory)
Ideology	Pa-O nationalism
Allies	All Burma Students' Democratic Front Karenni Army
Opponents	Myanmar Tatmadaw Union of Myanmar Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma (until 1988) Union of Burma (until 1962)
Battles and wars	Internal conflict in Myanmar

The PNA signed a ceasefire agreement with the then ruling State Peace and Development Council on 11 April 1991, and merged with other Pa-O paramilitary groups on 9 December 2009.[3][4] The PNA has since disbanded, and its political wing, the PNO, now administers the Pa-O Self-Administered Zone, which consists of three townships in southern Shan State: Hopong, Hsi Hseng, and Pinlaung townships.[1]

References

1. South, Ashley (2008). Ethnic Politics in Burma: States of Conflict. Oxon: Routledge. pp. 122–124. ISBN 0-203-89519-3.
2. "Armed ethnic groups". Myanmar Peace Monitor.
3. "PNLO". Myanmar Peace Monitor.
4. Kyaw, Sann; Christensen, Russ (2006). The Pa-O: Rebels and Refugees. Chiang Mai: Silkworm Books. ISBN 978-974-9575-93-2.