Armed Groups in the Democratic Republic of Kalasin
The Democratic Republic of Kalasin has, over the course of its nearly seventy year existence, unfortunately seen the rise and fall of numerous armed groups operating throughout the troubled nation. Ranging from remnants of the former People's Republic of Kalasin's Army and right-wing militias to ethnic nationalist groups and drug cartels, they have long plagued the country's leadership, especially after the fall of the People's Republic in 2017. It is perhaps not surprising that Kalasin, a country made up of so many nationalities, struggles so much, owing to a legacy of Ardian colonial rule and later, of Daitōjin administration, which often favored specific ethnic groups while encouraging immigration into the region as a means of controlling it. What is listed below are some of the larger armed groups operating within the country, however, it should be noted that this list is by no means exhaustive.
The Vax National Army (VNA)
Leader: Aung Zin Yu
Members: 21,300Established: c.1979 Established in the aftermath of the Republic of Kalasin's exile in 1979, the Vax National Army, which operates in the rugged north of the country, is a government-aligned Armed Group which, with the assistance of Daitō's DTS (Daihonei Tokumu Sōkanbu,
General Intelligence Agency of the Imperial Military Headquarters), waged a decades-long guerrilla campaign against the People's Republic of Kalasin. Following the mainland's liberation in 2017, the VNA, now acting as the de-facto armed force or perhaps Gendarmery of the Vax State in northern Kalasin, has allied with the Provisional Government, aiding it in its conflict with other organizations in the region. As of 2023, it is engaged in a protracted conflict with the the Antawsai Revolutionary Army in neighboring Antawsai territory.
The Antawsai Revolutionary Army (ANA)
Leader: Salai Lin Nei ThuMembers: 9,220Established: c.2008 The Antawsai Revolutionary Army is a communist armed group operating in the Antawsai territory. Despite its claims of "egalitarianism" and "revolution", the ARA has, at times, been described as little more than a sizeable group of bandits or an Isanese supremacist organization, often terrorizing the local populace and targeting non-Isanese settlements in the territory. Officially, it was declared a terrorist organization by both the Peoples Republic
and the Republic of Kalasin, as well as numerous other countries across the globe. Nonetheless, despite opposition from much of the country, it seems quite possible that Salai Lin Nei Thu's regime in the territory will survive for some time, owing to the region's terrain making entry difficult.
Remnants of the People's Armed Forces of Kalasin (PAFK)
Leader: VariousMembers: Estimated at ~31,000Established: c.2017 Despite the People's Republic of Kalasin being overthrown in 2017, there were commanders within its military, the People's Armed Forces of Kalasin, which refused to surrender. Fleeing into the jungles and mountains of the country, since the end of the Second Kalasin War, they have waged a guerilla campaign against the central government and its allies, striking against soft targets before retreating into their own territory. Despite calls from some members of the former government's leadership, they have continually refused to lay down their arms, and in fact, they have grown in strength in recent years, whether by conscripting able-bodied men from settlements they control or from former PAFK personnel willingly taking up arms. In their eyes, the country was stolen from them by the Daitōjin, and they are hell-bent on taking it back, even if it must mean allying with an unexpected group.
Meun National Revolutionary Army (MNRA)
Leader: Dusit NeelapaijitMembers: 11,920Established: c.2003 The Meun National Revolutionary Army is an armed group fighting for the independence of Meun Province from Kalasin. Governed effectively as a military junta, the MNRA's leadership, led by Dusit Neelapaijit, has made vague promises of democratization in the event of the region's independence. However, as the fighting has continued in the region, some outside observers have suggested that he may, ultimately, renege on such promises upon a victory. The Meun National Revolutionary Army, despite its involvement in drug trafficking—primarily substances such as cocaine and heroin—across the nation and indeed a large part of both southern Aranye and northern Ardia, has remained fairly popular within its region, at least per the limited polling which has come out of it in recent years. Whether those responding to said polls were genuine or said they were supportive of the MNRA out of fear for their safety is uncertain.
