Muse offensive

The Muse offensive, also known as the Mong Ko offensive, was a joint military operation by members of the Northern Alliance, which consists of the Arakan Army (AA), the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). The groups targeted towns and border posts along the China–Myanmar border in Muse Township, Myanmar.

Muse offensive
Part of the internal conflict in Myanmar
Date20 November – 4 December 2016
(2 weeks)
Location
Muse Township, Shan State, Myanmar
Result Burmese government victory
Territorial
changes		 Mong Ko is captured by the Northern Alliance on 25 November 2016, but is later retaken by the Myanmar Army on 4 December 2016.
Belligerents
 Myanmar Northern Alliance
Commanders and leaders
Units involved

Tatmadaw
  • 5th Brigade
Strength
Initial attack:
20 security personnel[1]		 Initial attack:
100+ insurgents[1]
Casualties and losses
Initial attack:
4 killed, 9 wounded[1]		 Unknown
Total:[2]
16 killed
51 wounded
2,600 internally displaced
3,000 fled to China

Timeline

On the morning of 20 November 2016, MNDAA and Arakan Army troops attacked the town of Mong Ko at 3:00 am (MMT), KIA troops attacked the town of Pang Sai at 6:00 am,[3] and two battalions of the TNLA's 5th Brigade attacked border police and army posts in Muse Township at 8:00 am. Eight people were killed in the attack—one soldier, three policemen and 4 civilians—whilst 26 others were wounded.[1][4] The Myanmar Army responded to the attacks by shelling insurgent bases in Muse Township, and the Myanmar Air Force began launching more airstrikes in the area as well, resulting in several civilian casualties.[5]

Local charities and aid groups reported that 2,000[6] to 3,000[1] internally displaced civilians fled to nearby monasteries in Muse Township following the clashes. After fighting had ceased in the town of Muse on 23 November 2016, over 800 residents returned under the security of the Myanmar Army and local militias. However, some residents remained fearful and contradicted official reports that the fighting had ended, saying that they could still hear gunfire in the town.[7]

The Northern Alliance claimed complete control of Mong Ko on 25 November 2016;[8] however, the Myanmar Army recaptured the town on 4 December 2016, after Northern Alliance troops withdrew to avoid civilian casualties[9] from airstrikes by the Myanmar Air Force.[10][11]

Aftermath

On 30 November 2016, a reported total of 16 people had died from the conflict, 51 had been wounded, 2,600 had been internally displaced and 3,000 had fled to China.[2] The violence also severely reduced cross-border trade in the area between China and Myanmar, damaging the local economy that formerly saw $10 million USD worth of goods pass the border daily.[12][13]

State Counsellor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi made a statement on 23 November 2016, urging the Northern Alliance to cease hostilities and to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).[14] A spokesperson for the TNLA later blamed the government for the fighting and for subsequent failed peace arrangements, citing the exclusion of the KIA from individual meetings as a deterrent for the Northern Alliance.[15]

References
  1. Nadi, Nang Mya (22 November 2016). "8 killed as ethnic rebels hit Muse". DVB Multimedia Group. Archived from the original on 4 May 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  2. Choudhury, Angshuman (8 December 2016). "The Muse Rebel Attacks: Dangers of Myanmar's Two-Faced Peace Process". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  3. Weng, Lawi (20 November 2016). "Ethnic Armed Groups Launch Joint Offensive in Northern Shan State". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  4. Aung, Thu Thu (21 November 2016). "Ethnic armed groups launch attack near Muse". The Myanmar Times. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  5. Nyein, Nyein (26 December 2017). "Fighting in Northeast Picks Up at Year's End". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  6. "Kachin Independence Army Teams Up with Other Fighters in Myanmar Attack". Radio Free Asia. 21 November 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  7. "Myanmar Residents Return to Muse Despite Fears That Armed Clashes Will Continue". Radio Free Asia. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  8. Weng, Lawi (28 November 2016). "Ethnic Armed Groups Claim Control of Border Town". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  9. Weng, Lawi (5 December 2016). "Ethnic Armed Groups Withdraw from Mong Ko to Protect Civilians". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  10. Aung, Thu Thu (24 November 2016). "Air strikes reported as Shan State conflict spreads". The Myanmar Times. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  11. Noreen, Naw (5 December 2016). "Burmese army recaptures Mongko". DVB Multimedia Group. Archived from the original on 3 May 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  12. Htwe, Chan Mya; Wai, Khin Su (24 November 2016). "Muse offensive closes border trading". The Myanmar Times. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  13. "Normalcy returning to Muse: state media". DVB Multimedia Group. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  14. Myint, Sithu Aung (11 December 2016). "Fighting for peace in Muse, the KIA shoots itself in the foot". Frontier Myanmar. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  15. Noreen, Naw (5 December 2016). "Northern Alliance calls for nationwide ceasefire". DVB Multimedia Group. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
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