While there are several ethnic armed groups in Shan State that challenge the Burmese military, the Pa-O People’s Liberation Army (PNO) is a long-time ally of the Burmese military.
Led by former parliamentarian and Myanmar’s richest man, U Ne Win Htun, as deputy commander-in-chief, the PNO has been expanding its arsenal of weapons, personnel, and technology.
Military sources say the PNO is using Russians for its military training and is also training special commandos.
The Pa-O Human Rights Group (PHRG) says that with this expansion, locals are facing a variety of demands for money and conscription, including village-by-village recruitment.
The military council’s vanguard, PNO
During the first five months of 2025, the Pa-O National Liberation Army (PNO) launched a series of attacks on villages occupied by armed groups rebelling against the military council.