
Refugee/ IDP Camp

Regional Displaced People

Military Base

Military Office
Understanding The Map
The map serves as a rough guide to the different conflict areas, displaced peoples, rebel groups and their territories.
The situation is extremely fluid and hard to define. As such, the map should be considered as more of an illustrative aid, rather than a specific outline.
Stronghold:
Areas in which rebel groups operate freely without interference from the Burma government.
Light Control:
Areas in which rebel groups have influence but not all out control. These areas are explicitly controlled by the Burma Government but rebel groups may recruit, conduct military operations, collect taxes and provide basic government services. Degrees of light control vary greatly from area to area.
Conflict History
The conflict in Burma is the longest running civil war in the world, with some exceptions, the divides are primarily down ethnic lines.
Ethnic regions consistently suffer from the highest rates of poverty and lack of National government services. There is also a long running history of land confiscation, denial of basic human rights, violent abuse, preventions of cultural practices, political disenfranchisement, theft, forced labour and war crimes perpetrated against civilians.
Armed rebel groups also have a long history of fighting one another.
Peace Process
Burma’s peace process is highly complex given the large number of actors involved, lack of transparency and rapid speed of changes.* It is a widely held belief among many rebel and minority groups that the Peace Process is merely a show for the international backers who financially support the project, while fighting on the ground continues to take place unabated.
Burma vs Myanmar
The national governments effort to change the countries name to “Myanmar” was done so to imply that plurality exists within the nation.
However Burman ethno-nationalist policies still exist, hence the name “Myanmar” continues to feel like yet another affront and devaluation the socio-political and cultural difference between Burmans and other ethnic groups.
Alliances
There are two official primarily alliances. Northern Alliance and United Nationalities Federal Council.
Also note that many of the groups along the Western and border have conflict against the Indian National Government as well the Burmese.

Tatmadaw - Burma Army
Active Fighting
Troops ~ 500,000

Kachin Independence Organisation
Northern Alliance
Active FightingTroops ~ 12,000

Shan State Army - North
Northern Alliance & United Nationalities Federal Council
Active FightingTroops ~ 8,000

Ta’ang National Liberation Army
Northern Alliance
Active FightingTroops ~ 6,000

Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (Kokang)
Northern Alliance
Active FightingTroops ~ 4,000

Karen National Liberation Army
Independent
Active FightingTroops ~ 5,000

United Wa State Army
Independent
Non-Combatant
Troops ~ 25,000

Democratic Karen Benevolent Army
Independent
Active FightingTroops ~ 1,500

National Socialist Council of Nagaland
Independent
CeasefireTroops ~ 4,500

Shan State Army - South
Independent
CeasefireTroops ~ 15,000

National Democratic Alliance Army
Independent
CeasefireTroops ~ 3,000

All Burma Students Democratic Front
Independent
Active FightingTroops ~ 400

Shanni Nationalities Army
Government Aligned
CeasefireTroops ~ 300

Karen Peace Council
Independent
CeasefireTroops ~ +200

Arakan Army (North & Eastern Region)
United Nationalities Federal Council & Northern Alliance
Active FightingTroops ~ 3,000

Chin National Army
Independent
Ceasefire
Troops ~ 500

Kuki National Army
Independent
Ceasefire
Troops ~ 300

Lahu Democratic Union
United Nationalities Federal Council
CeasefireTroops – Unknown

Pa-Oh Liberation Organization
Independent
Ceasefire
Troops ~+400

Karenni National Progressive Party
United Nationalities Federal Council
Ceasefire
Troops ~+1000

Mon National Liberation Army
United Nationalities Federal Council
CeasefireTroops ~ 2,000

Wa National Army
Independent
Status – UnknownTroops – +200

Arakan Liberation Army (Western Region)
Independent
Active Fighting
Troops – Unknown

Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army
Independent
Active FightingTroops ~ Unknown

Zomi Revolutionary Army
Independent
Active FightingTroops ~ 3000