Understanding Inter-Ethnic Conflict in Myanmar

While most of the political violence in Myanmar arises from the conflicts between the Myanmar military and the many ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) in the country, inter-ethnic conflict has increased in recent years. One such conflict is that between the Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA) and the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army-South (RCSS/SSA-S). In the months after the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) was signed in late 2015, fighting between the RCSS/SSA-S (a signatory to the NCA) and the PSLF/TNLA (a non-signatory) flared due to territorial disputes between the two groups.