Shan State Army - North


 * Not to be confused with the Shan State Army - South

The Shan State Army-North (SSA-N) (ရှမ်းပြည်တပ်မတော် (မြောက်ပိုင်း)), also known as Shan State Army/Special Region 3 (SSA/SR-3) is an armed pro-independence Shan nationalist group fighting against the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) regime of Burma. It is the armed wing of the Shan State Progress Party (SPP).

History
The Shan State Progress Party was founded in 1971. The Shan State Army-North, its armed wing, signed a ceasefire in 1989 after negotiations with the SLORC and was able to obtain a degree of autonomy for the areas under its control, establishing the Special Region 3 of the Shan State. This area included Nam Kham, Langkho, Hsipaw, Kyauk Mae, Mong Hsu, Tang Yang, Mongyai, Kehsi and Lashio Township. The size of the armed group at that time was of about 4.000 fighters. Even after having signed a ceasefire, the Burmese military continued to attack the Shan State Army-North areas.

Although the SSA-N is more conciliatory towards the government than other armed Shan independentist groups, in 2005 it abandoned its base rather than disarm. At one point the Burmese government wished the Shan State Army - North to join its border guard force. Two of the three brigades reportedly agreed to join the border guard, while the other refused.

Renewed hostilities
In 2014 the group has clashed with the Burmese army in Kehsi Mansam Township, home to the SSA-N Wanhai headquarters. Also the Burmese military attacked and seized Shan State Army-North Mongsu camp and resumed the fight against the SSA-N Brigade 72 in Kehsi Township.

Beginning on 6 October 2015 a large scale offensive by the Tatmadaw comprising 20 Burma Army battalions has been launched in central Shan State. The aim of the military is to seize Shan ceasefire territories in Kehsi, Mong Nawng, Mong Hsu and Tangyan townships, using heavy artillery and with fighter jet and helicopter gunship air support to indiscriminately shell and bomb civilian areas. These attacks have displaced thousands of Shan, Palaung, Lisu and Lahu people causing a new humanitarian crisis.

Organisation
The Shan State Army "North" had originally 3 brigades: 1st, 3rd and 7th, but presently the organisation has changed.