It was widely anticipated in late June that the fall of Lashio, the capital of Northern Shan State was inevitable. In addition, the ethnic groups made significant advances in the entire northern Shan State and elsewhere, by capturing Mogoke and Moemeik during the month of July.

The main group controlling Lashio now is the Myanmar National Democratic Army (MNDAA) which is dominated by the members of the Kokang ethnic group. According to some estimates, the total number of Kokang ethnic groups currently living in Myanmar is only 150,000 people, and 90 percent of them are Han Chinese. MNDA is a part of the Three Brotherhood Alliance that has been making significant territorial gains since they started a coordinated attack on the military regime last October.

As Lashio, other strategic towns in the country Mogyoke, the centre of the country’s ruby mining town and the nearby town of Moemeik have fallen into the hands of the rebel group Ta’ang Palaung National Liberation Army (TNLA) another member of the Three Brotherhood Alliance in July.

Many would think these developments in Northern Shan State are only defeat for the junta, which is currently in power, however, the historical perspective tends to indicate that the capture of Lashio and other towns in Shan State is a resounding defeat for the entire Bama nationalism, which dominated in Shan State since the 16th century.

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