National Democratic Alliance Army


The National Democratic Alliance Army, also known as the National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State, colloquially the Eastern Shan State Army or the Mong La group, is the armed wing of the Peace and Solidarity Committee in eastern Shan State, Myanmar. The latter name originated from its location in the Mong La Township in eastern Shan State, known also as 'Shan State Special region 4'.

History

The Mong La area had been under the control of several warlords since the 1960s. The NDAA was formed in 1989 after splitting from the former Communist Party of Burma. The strength of the army is 3,000 to 4,000 men.
The NDAA was one of the first groups to sign a ceasefire with the Tatmadaw. After the ceasefire, the area underwent an economic boom, with both the NDAA and local Tatmadaw units benefiting financially from increased opium harvests and narcotics trafficking. The NDAA declared an opium ban in the Mong La region in 1997 and signed a new ceasefire with the Burmese government in 2011.
The NDAA maintains close ties with other rebel armed groups that split from the CPB, such as the Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army, the New Democratic Army - Kachin, and the United Wa State Army. In 2008 the UWSA was strongly against giving away the area of Mong Pawk from its control because it serves as a link with its ally, the National Democratic Alliance Army in Mong La.