The Muang Tai army was formed in 1985, through the merger of two nationalist paramilitary groups, SUA (Shan United Army) and the Moh Heng-faction of SURA Shan United Revolutionary Army. Both these groups, while nominally fighting for the independence of Shan from Burma, were also functioning as private armies of two warlords (Khun Sa and Moh Heng, respectively), both heavily involved in the drug trade. Ultimately the conflicts fought by the Muang Tai Army claimed thousands of lives. But eventually in 1996 Khun Sa and his army surrendered to the Burmese army.