— Please Note: This is a work in progress. FBR will be adding to this list and expanding/correcting definitions. Your input is welcome. —

AA: Arakan Army

ALA: Arakan Liberation Army, the armed branch of the ALP.

ALP: Arakan Liberation Party, pro-democracy Arakan resistance group.

Aung San Suu Kyi: born 19 June 1945 in Rangoon, is a pro-democracy activist and leader of the National League for Democracy in Burma, and a noted prisoner of conscience and advocate of nonviolent resistance. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. (wikipedia)

BA: Burma Army, sometimes referred to as the “Tatmadaw.”

Basket: Unit of measure equal to 2 tins ( one tin = 8 gallons in volume )

CIDKP: Committee for Internally Displaced Karen People; Karen group providing aid to IDPs in Karen State.

CNC: Chin National Council, the pro-democracy resistance group of Chin State.

DKBA: Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. Broke away from the KNU in late 1994; proxy army of the SPDC.

Dooplaya District: Region in Southern Karen State.

FBR: Free Burma Rangers; a multi-ethnic humanitarian service movement. They bring help, hope and love to people in the war zones of Burma.

GLC: Good Life Club; a relief arm of the FBR directed at aiding mothers and children in the displaced communities in Burma.

GPS: Global Positioning System; a space-based satellite navigation system that provides location and time information

IB: Infantry Battalion. IBs typically have 120 to 150 men, for garrison duty, sometimes offensive.

IDP: Internally displaced person; person who has been displaced from their home but has not fled their country; that is, has not fled across an international border.

ISIL/ISIS: The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL‎), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or simply Islamic State, is an unrecognized state that seeks the establishment of a transnational Islamic caliphate. The group controls territory in four countries, including Iraq, Syria, Libya, Nigeria, with operations or affiliates in Lebanon, Egypt, and other areas of the Middle East, North and West Africa, South, and Southeast Asia. Also known as Daesh to Arab and Kurdish opponents.

KA: Karenni Army, the armed wing of the KNPP.

Kachin: Ethnic minority who live in the northern hills of Burma, China and India. (wikipedia)

Karen: The Karen people (MLCTS: kayin lu myo:), self-titled Pwa Ka Nyaw Po, and also known in Thailand as the Kariang or Yang, are an ethnic group in Burma and Thailand. Karen are the second largest population group in Burma after ethnic Burmese. The Karen have fought for independence from Burma since 31 January 1949. Consequently, 31 January is recognized as Revolutionary Day amongst the Karen.

Karen State: Traditional homeland of the Karen people, also known as KayinState. The capital city is Pa-an. Control of the area is disputed between the military government of Burma (SPDC) and Karen groups, who refer to the area as Kawthoolei. (wikipedia)

KIA: Kachin Independence Army; is the military army of the Kachin Independence Organization(KIO), a political group composed of ethnic Kachins in northern Burma.

KIO: Kachin Independence Organization; political organization representing the Kachins.

KNDO: Karen National Defense Organization; local force of local fighters affiliated with the KNU.

KNLA: Karen National Liberation Army; the KNU’s armed wing since 1975.

KNO: Kachin National Organization, pro-democracy Kachin organization.

KNPP: Karenni National Progressive Party; Karenni pro-democracy resistance group, established in 1955.

KNU: Karen National Union. Pro-democracy resistance group in Karen State, established on 5 February 1947.

Kokang: a self-administered zone of Burma, located in northern Shan State. Shares its eastern border with Chian and is largely populated by the Kokang, a people of Han Chinese descent. (wikipedia)

Kyat: Burmese currency unit (abbreviated as “K”). Official exchange rate: 1 USD = K 7. Street rate: 1 USD = K 1240.

LIB: Light infantry battalion, with 120 to 150 men, for offensive operations, sometimes garrison duty.

LID: Light infantry division, 10 battalions

Mae Sot: A town and district in Tak Province, Thailand at the Thai-Myanmar border with the Moei River as a natural boundary. (wikipedia)

Mandalay: The second largest city and the last royal capital of Burma (Myanmar), and is the economic and cultural hub of Upper Burma.(wikipedia)

MNDAA: Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army is the resistance army of the Kokang minority.

MOC: Military Operations Command, 10 battalions, 7 of which are active in the field and 3 of which are in reserve (3 TOCs and 1 headquarters battalion), used for attack

Mon Township: Region in Northern Karen State. (map)

Naypyidaw: (also spelled Nay Pyi Taw) is the capital of Myanmar. Naypyidaw means “Royal City”, but is also translated as “abode of kings”. Naypyidaw is approximately 320 kilometres north of Yangon. The capital’s official name was announced on Burma Armed Forces Day in March 2006. (wikipedia)

NLD: National League for Democracy; main pro-democracy political party in Burma. Led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

Nyaunglebin District: Region in North-East Karen State. (map)

Pa-An District: Region in Eastern Karen State, bordering Thailand. (map)

Palaung: Also known as the Ta’ang, an ethnic minority who live in northern Shan State and southern Kachin.

SAF: Sudanese Armed Forces; armed forces of the Republic of Sudan. Have engaged in combat operations against resistance forces and civilians in the Nuba mountain region of Southern Sudan.

Shan: The Shan people are a Tai ethnic group of Southeast Asia. Shan people live primarily in the Shan State of Burma, but also inhabit parts of Mandalay Division, Kachin State, and Kayin State, and in adjacent regions of China and Thailand. Though no reliable census has been taken in Burma since 1935, Shan are estimated to number approximately 6 million.

SOC: Strategic Operations Command; under regional command, 3-4 battalions and a headquarters, covers an area, mostly defense.

SPDC: State Peace and Development Council; the official name of the ruling military junta in Burma, successor to the previous “State Law and Order Restoration Council” assumed after the shakeup of 1990.

SSA: Shan State Army; armed pro-democracy movement in Shan State

Ta’ang: See Palaung.

Tantabin District: Region in Northern Karen State. (map)

Thalot: Unit of measure equal to 2 kg

Than Shwe: ( born 2 February 1933) is Head of State of Burma (Myanmar), serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Tatmadaw and chairman of the State Peace and Development Council since 23 April 1992. (wikipedia)

Thaton District: Region in Northern Karen State. (map)

TNLA: Ta’ang National Liberation Army; the resistance army of the Palaung people.

Toungoo District: Region in Northern Karen State. (map)

TOC: Tactical Operations Command, usually under a LID, three battalions and a headquarters, for defensive operations

UWSA: United Wa State Army; proxy army of the SPDC in the Wa State

Viss: Unit of measer equal to 1.6 Kg

Yangon: (also known as Rangoon) is the largest city and a former capital of Burma. Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of four million, continues to be the country’s largest city and the most important commercial center. (wikipedia)