Briefs

Briefs

Training in ceasefire camp

A report from the north on 3 July says Shan State Peace Council opened an 18 month long maternity and child care course in Khaiseem Camp, Hsipaw Township a day earlier. 

There were 2 doctors and 2 nurses who would serve as instructors and 52 trainees. 

The SSPC is made up of Shan State Army (North) of Col. Loimao and Shan State National Army of Col. Karnyawd. 

Another shipment of ammo from China

At 13:00, on 14 July, 8 army trucks moved from Zegao to Muse of Shan State. They were escorted by Maj. Nyi Nyi Zaw.

The convoy was headed for the main ordinance depot in Mandalay, 290 miles southwest. 

The source said the current commander of the depot was Maj. Soe Lwin. 

Flood wipes out 5 homes 

Incessant rain that began on 4-6 July caused floods along the Namtu (Dukthawaddy) river destroying five civilian houses in the low-lying part of Nam Oom Township at 02:00 on 6 July, reported source. Two farm tractors and 4 pigs were also among the losses. 

Villagers' rice fields sold to Chinese 

Tin Oo, secretary of the Panghsai Township, opposite Wanting of Yunnan, has sold ricefields owned by farmers in 2 villages to a Chinese recently thereby depriving the villagers of their livelihood, said a source from the north.

The 2 villages were Wanzay and Namhu. Tin Oo had ordered villagers who had already planted to pull out all their rice seedlings, he said, adding that details of the report would follow soon. 

Panghsai is about 10 miles northeast of Muse. 

Burmese troops learning Shan 

Since last year, Burmese units in southern Shan State have been organizing Shan language classes, said sources. 

On 1 June, Maj.-Gen. Tha Aye, Commander, Area Control Command 17, with headquarters in Mongpan, 120 miles from the Chiangmai border, issued an order that all units send 2-3 enlisted men to attend a Shan language class to be opened at the LIB 332 command post. 

An officer from the Shan State Army South commented, "It means they don't trust their Shan interpreters much. It also means they are going to speed up the implementation of their dirty plans in the Shan State."