Shan rebels deny bombing of Tachilek

Shan rebels deny bombing of Tachilek

Soon after four bombs exploded in and near Tachilek late last night and this morning, commanders of the Shan State Army turned out to disclaim suggestions as to their involvement. 

The first bomb reportedly blew up at 22:00 last night, killing two policemen in the Wanpong police box, 37 km east of the town. 

The second went up at 03:15 this morning near the Myanmar Petroleum Production Enterprise (MPPE) gas station in Paliang ward, east of the Maekhao, a tributary of the Maesai, killing a civilian. "His disconnected remains were already wrapped up in a bag, when we went to look in the morning", said a long-time resident. 

The third explosion was at the King Bayintnaung statue at the center of the city at 06:45. "The blast was such all windowpanes from a third-story building were smashed to pieces," informed another resident. 

The fourth bomb that discharged at 08:20 blew away a worker at the newly set up electricity plant near the Regina Hotel. The plant was owned by U Tar Wai, an ethnic Chinese with connections to the Wa, said the source. 

Many fingers on the Thai side pointed at first at the Shan State Army "South" of Col Yawdserk who was celebrating the Shan State's 45th Resistance Day at the Doi Taileng stronghold across Maehongson Province. "He might want to make this day his day", quipped an officer. 

Contacted by S.H.A.N. both Lt-Col Kawnzuen, Commander of the SSA's Kengtung Front, and Col Yawdserk himself rejected that they had anything to do with the bombings. 

"We could have done it if we wanted to, when Gen Khin Nyunt was here (on 19 May, two days earlier)," explained Kawnzuen. "But we didn't. Today is also an auspicious day for us. We would never think of tarnishing it." As for Yawdserk, his response was: "This is a day to make merits (Boon), not to commit sin (Barp). We are making merits for our people who had given up their lives for freedom and have been extending them to all living beings. We are not terrorists. We do not engage in such rascally acts. But the SPDC (the ruling military leadership) has enemies both within and without, not just myself." 

Thai security officials, after consultation among themselves, gave their preliminary conclusions as follows: The SSA''s denial has some substance. 

• It had been pressured by the Thai government not to do anything that would disrupt the Bangkok mediation process. 

• They did not believe the SSA had the capacity to launch coordinated bomb attacks in the same town especially Tachilek. 

A cross border operation by any foreign force, including Thai, was also out of the question. 

• Attack on heavily guarded targets like Bayintnaung statue is not "a piece of cake, without cooperation by those who are guarding it." 

• An escape route is almost always important for an attacking force. "I don't know how I can get away after bombing, say, the gas station, because my flight is being blocked by not only the Maesai but also the Maekhao," commented one. 

Accordingly, the initial deduction was that "the culprits are from Burma's side." 

• Some officers among the Burma army are against "getting too chummy with the Yodaya" (a derogatory term for Thailand). Not a few might even want to discredit Gen Khin Nyunt for his congenial stance towards Bangkok. 

• Many also want to downgrade the Shans as terrorists, thereby justifying a termination of Thai mediation efforts. 

However, the border will not be closed despite the attacks, according to Thai officials in Maesai.

"People are still allowed by the Burmese immigration to cross the border," said a military officer with the rank of major. "Only they are not allowed to carry things." 

3-400 children from Tachilek are attending school in Maesai. 

Updated: 5 June 2003