Wa sought to join Burmese attack against Shans

Wa sought to join Burmese attack against Shans

The United Wa State Army has recently been requested to join forces with the Burma Army in the upcoming offensive against the rebel Shan State Army, said a Border Patrol Police sources this morning. 

The call was delivered to the Wa leaders by lieutenant-generals Thura Shwe Mann, Armed Forces Chief of Staff, and Aung Htwe, Chief of Bureau of Special Operations #2 otherwise known as "Governor of Shan State and Kayah" during their visit to Monghsat and Mongton, opposite Chiangmai and Chiangrai provinces, 29-30 March, he said. 

"The same request was presented to them on 27 March, when the Armed Forces Day ceremony in Monghsat was attended by the Wa," added the source. "They wanted at least 500 Wa fighters to reinforce the Burmese attacking columns." 

A local source also told S.H.A.N. a meeting of commanders in Mongton on 26 March discussed detailed plans on launching the attack after the Hsangjarn (Songkran water festival), which falls on 13 April. No particulars, however, were given and there was no confirmation. 

Shan State Army commanders have put the odds at 50:50. "We have yet to receive information of their unusual movements," said Lt-Col Khurh-ngern, Shan State Army leader Col Yawdserk's second-in-command. "It is also going against the mediation process initiated by Bangkok." 

Since PM Thaksin Shinawatra's high profile visit to Burma, 9-10 February, Thailand has been engaged in removing the Shan State Army from their border positions. "The Burmese are doing the same with Wa," according to the Third Army's new commander, Lt-Gen Picharnmet Muangmanee. 

Border security officers, however, had pointed out that the Burmese Army so far had demanded the withdrawal of only two brigades 214th of Ta Rong and 2518th of Ta Pang (former 894th Brigade or Independent Regiment of the disgraced Wei Hsaitang). 

"They've been telling that to the Wa for years," said a Lahu source, "except when the Wa are needed to fight against the Shans." 

Incoming reports appear to reinforce the assumption that a military strike against the SSA is imminent, according to a Thai border watcher. 

For instance, he said "the four battalions surrounding the SSA positions in Loilam (opposite Wianghaeng District) and Loi Hpawawng (opposite Fang District) were instructed by the forward area commander to start adopting the 'half in bed and half on watch' system beginning 24 March and battalion commanders to be near their respective radio transmitter-receivers at all times beginning 26 March in anticipation for 'important directives concerning military actions against the insurgents'". 

Since the end of the Pang Maisoong Battle, 20 May-20 June 2002, several reports of impending offensive against the SSA have been received by S.H.A.N. but none so far has materialized.