After the two-week long coup in National Democratic Army-Kachin was dealt with by supporters of Chairman Sahkung Tingying, officials from the Northern Command Headquarter are asking the four coup leaders to surrender, a Kachin official from NDA-K said.

Those who are being asked to surrender to the State Peace and Development Council are Lowar Zaw Khaung, Mangki Khong Lume, Lakuk Zung Ying and Zaw Naung. They are currently in custody at the “Nay Chi” (Sun Ray) hotel in Panwa, the NDA-K HQ, the Kachin official Khong Zee added.

Other senior coup leaders Layawk Zelum and Chang Lang were arrested by SPDC forces in Myitkyina on September 26. Chang Lang is the NDA-K delegate to the government sponsored “National Convention” (NC).

Whether they will comply with the SPDC demand to surrender will be decided at a public rally to be held soon. The SPDC Northern Command forces who marched towards Panwa in the last two weeks have withdrawn to their bases. NDA-K entered into a ceasefire agreement with the SPDC in 1989.

Surprise Coup

The coup leaders led by Secretary Layawk Zelum staged the coup against the troops loyal to Chairman Sahkung Tingying and took control of Panwa on September 14 while Tingying was in Rangoon talking to SPDC leaders about the gold mine in Che Bwe region allegedly destroyed by the SPDC forces. The coup leaders arrested the bodyguards of Tingying and disarmed them.
Some of them were put under house arrest. A son of Tingying had to flee to Myitkyina.

The coup leaders charged Tingying of drug trafficking, and raising an illegal bodyguard force with Chinese nationals. But Tingying denied all the charges made against him.

Analysts speculate that the main reason behind the coup may have been related to economics rather than political and military matters.

The NDA-K has four battalions mainly comprised of Lachik, Lauwar and Rawang tribes from Kachin State. “Network Media Group” (NMG) reported that the majority Lachik tribe soldiers did not support the Lauwar tribe coup leaders.

On September 15, Chairman Sahkung Tingying issued a statement saying that those who took part in the coup would be dealt with.

There was confusion and palpable tension among the two factions which led to an exchange of fire later. At least four died in action. Some say there were more casualties.

Let’s have a talk

The five Christian religious leaders acting as peace brokers between the two factions had agreed to meet at the Northern Command Headquarter which was to be sponsored by the SPDC military command. Both factions went to the proposed venue in Myitkyina on September 25 morning.

Tingying in power again

But on the same day at 10 p.m. the renegade group of KIA led by Lt. Col. Khun Doila taking refuge in Panwa assisted the Tingying faction to regain power and take control of Panwa without bloodshed. The remaining coup leaders in Panwa were arrested later.

Peace groups have had a similar experience in Moneko, Northern Shan State a few years ago. In that case, the coup leader Monsala was arrested by SPDC forces and tried and imprisoned. Similarly analysts on the Sino-Burma border speculated that coup leaders of the NDA-K would have to surrender to SPDC forces.