Violent rebels and their backers beware : Stability will prevail (Article)
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Htet Nadi (NP News)
The news that the leader of the BNRA group, Naing Lin (aka) Bo Nagar and his family members had entered the legal system with weapons and ammunition was a nightmare for the NUG. Because NUG and Bo Nagar were once allies. Therefore, the surrender of Bo Nagar has led to accusations of betrayal by NUG supporters.
In fact, Bo Nagar was also pushed by the NUG to come to the legal fold. Bo Nagar led the Burma National Revolution Army (BNRA), an armed resistance organization based in Pale Township, Sagaing Region. Earlier, the group was founded on January 1, 2022 under the name Myanmar Royal Dragon Army (MRDA) and carried out activities against the Tatmadaw.
While standing as the MRDA, the group recognized itself as being under the NUG/MOD and, like other PDFs, received weapons support. However, disputes later arose between the MRDA and PDFs under the NUG/MOD over issues including the opening of checkpoints and tax collection in areas where they were operating, as well as territorial expansion activities. Following these disagreements, the MRDA was expelled from the MOD in 2023 and its support was subsequently cut off.
It was later reorganized as the BNRA. The BNRA's strength is estimated to be around 3,000. Despite the splits, tensions between the BNRA and NUG/PDF persist, including territorial disputes, unequal distribution of gate posts and tax collection. Since January, 2026, the BNRA, led by Bo Nagar and based in the Pale region, and PDF have been exchanging raids and arrests at tax posts.
The most recent incident occurred when the PDF surrounded and attacked the BNRA base in Pale Township, Sagaing Region, at 7:30 am on February 17, 2026. As a result, Bo Naga, the leader of the BNRA, took up arms and surrendered to a Tatmadaw camp in Pale Township, Sagaing Region at 4:50 pm on February 18, 2026.
Although the NUG side reported that the BNRA led by Bo Nagar had committed crimes, resulting in the PDF attacking their camps, both sides had in fact committed crimes. Actually, the NUG side started this attack on the BNRA only because it wanted to expand the occupied territory to collect more taxes.
Therefore, if Nagar had not surrendered to the Tatmadaw, he could have been arrested by the NUG, tried by them, or even killed. Efforts can be seen as an intention to either control his position, given that his influence was limited to a small township, or to eliminate him if possible. In this situation, Nagar understood very well that the Tatmadaw was the only guarantee for his life and family safety, so he was able to enter the legal fold.
Not only Bo Nagar, but Khun Sa, who had taken the title of ‘Opium King’ and dominated the Golden Triangle border region of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos with his own army of about 35,000 soldiers, surrendered to the Tatmadaw when his life was at risk.
Khun Sa, who established armed forces in Shan State and operated a large-scale drug trade, became known as the Opium King. He traveled to Taiwan with the KMT troops, where he learned how to make heroin and how to export it to the world market. He then based his MTA group at the Homein camp on the Thai-Myanmar border, where American senators, diplomats, and journalists frequented the camp. The CIA persuaded Khun Sa to become president of the Shan Republic and declare secession from the union, and even opened his own embassy in Washington, DC.
In military terms, the Americans had installed anti-aircraft guns in Khun Sa's camp to protect it from the air attacks of the Tatmadaw. In addition, they had imported cruise missiles to be installed under the pretext of protecting it from the Myanma Army's offensive. At this point, Khun Sa realized the Americans' dishonest actions and became worried that if he used those missiles to attack China or the major cities of Yangon, and Mandalay, his crime would be very serious, and so, he became worried.
Therefore, weighing the risks to his life and position, Khun Sa decided on his final course of action. On January 6, 1996, he unconditionally surrendered to the Tatmadaw along with the entire MTA force. Unlike other groups, he did not seek peace concessions but laid down his arms completely. He subsequently lived quietly in Yangon until he died of health problems.
Following Khun Sa’s surrender, the United States reportedly reacted with anger and requested that he be handed over as a world drug lord to the U.S. However, the Myanmar government (then the State Law and Order Restoration Council) firmly refused and did not transfer judicial authority to the United States.
Currently, Nagar has become a Tatmadaw ally, and is an important source of information in suppressing the rebels, as the Tatmadaw can obtain insider information of the armed groups from him. Nagar can share information about the NUG's command structures, troop locations, strength, future plans, etc., which can have immediate benefits to military intelligence for the Tatmadaw. Nagar's exposure could pave the way for the elimination of PDFs in the Anyar.
It is also common to see armed groups gradually disintegrating and surrendering these days. Armed groups have arrived in hundreds, tens, and batches, and now there are at least 500 to 600.
The recent political scene, with its increasing number of people entering the legal framework and even the leader of an armed group surrendering, indicates that the revolution they are referring to is far from being successful. In addition, with the new government coming to power, it is also seen that those who cherish the essence of peace and stability will quickly enter the legal framework.
Therefore, armed groups engaging in violence, those who are inciting and encouraging such acts, as well as domestic and international organizations and foreign governments that provide support to these groups, should immediately cease their destructive and dishonest actions. Continued backing of armed confrontation will only prolong instability and deepen the suffering of the people. History has shown that covert involvement and behind-the-scenes manipulation do not remain hidden forever. If such actions persist, they risk eventual exposure, international scrutiny, and lasting damage to their credibility and reputation. –