Border situation

Border situation

Regional commander arrives on the scene

Moengzay reports from Chiangrai yesterday that eastern Shan State's regional commander arrived in the border town of Tachilek on an inspection trip to the scene of fighting that took place last Friday (8 February).

"There were six trucks of troops, about 30 strong, to escort him," said an informed source. "He (Brigadier General Chit Than, commander of the Triangle Region who succeeded Maj Gen Thein Sein) himself rode in a civilian Pajero Land Cruiser that was obviously pressganged."

The general was putting up for the night at the LIB 526 command post, located west of the Tachilek aerodrome.
Update: 

General Chit Than has invited the Thai army for an ad hoc meeting in Tachilek today. One of the topics will be the Burmese army's imminent offensive against "terrorists".

A chase for forced service

Moengzay also reports 8 civilian 10-wheeled trucks being pressed into service 15:30 yesterday. 37 homeless people were also rounded up for portering at 18:30. Both the trucks and the porters were taken to the LIB 331 command post, east of the Ponglo pagoda, on the road to the town's airport.

"Most townspeople have been staying indoors at sunset since the beginning of February and especially after Mae Jok," said the source. "They don't want to be caught by Burmese troops on a foray for porters."

The trucks and the porters were going up to the LIB 331 forward base in Nampong west of Tachilek. "Nampong also has Yisay's militia headquarters and a refinery," he confided.

The Mae Jok raid last Friday (8 February), opposite Mae Fa Laung district killed 5 Burmese troops from IB 244 (Kengtung) and 2 militiamen from Napuko village. A casino and a message parlor were also set on fire by the raiders from the Shan State Army who suffered 1 casualty, according to TV Channel 7. 

Mae Jok is about 7 kilometers west of Nayao a.k.a. Yawngkha where the proposed Thai development project for the Wa is to take place.