Rangoon serves notice to Wa of impending crackdown

Rangoon serves notice to Wa of impending crackdown

The military authorities have issued notice to all armed groups remaining in Tachilek to expect official inspection teams to visit them in May, according to sources coming from the border.

The unidentified military intelligence officer, who assists Maj Thuta Sway, MI-24 (Tachilek), told the representatives of ceasefire and militia groups yesterday (28 April) the search teams would be looking for weapons, uniforms and other illegal possessions in a week-long campaign, 1-7 May.

He also counselled them each safe house should, for its own safety, maintain no more than 3 occupants at a time and they should carry citizen's cards, and not other identifications issued either by their groups or other government agencies.

The Wa representative, who was also unidentified, said, on behalf of the Special Region No. 2 (Wa), he had two favors to ask: one, if anyone associated to the SR2 in some way were caught, not to hold the organization responsible; and, two, that their vehicles returning to the north with their families not be confiscated. The MI officer assured him that the requests would be duly forwarded to his superiors. (The request was reportedly granted later, said a Tachilek resident on 30 April.)

Since 22 March, when the ultimatum was given by Gen Khin Nyunt, Burma's No. 3 man, to all ceasefire units not of southern origin to stay away from the border areas adjacent to Thailand, thousands of Wa in Tachilek have been busy moving their families and work teams back to the north, leaving the city almost deserted, said sources.
Even Sia Ord of Thai Sawad Co., who had been working with the Wa in Mongyawn for more then ten years, was recently "thrown out" for not holding official documents issued by Rangoon authorities and, as a result, is now back in Thailand, said a source close to him.

Despite the hullabaloo, however, questions are still being asked whether Rangoon really means business and whether it is ready to become "a good boy" from now on. "Look at the continuing forced labor and violations of human rights," said one border. "I don't feel assured."

Others also asked how long the Wa, known to be intransigent customers would "meekly" comply with Rangoon's wishes.