Situation in the north tense following Mongkoe massacre

Situation in the north tense following Mongkoe massacre

A source from the north told S.H.A.N. today that the situation in northern Shan State has been on edge since a month long fighting between two rival factions of a ceasefire group was bloodily put down by Rangoon late last month. 
Following orders in Muse, Shan town opposite Ruili (Mongmao in Shan), that ceasefire grops operating there surrender their arms to the military authorities, Wa and Kokang officers were believed to have taken off from their "liaison offices." 

"There are some Kachin, Palaung and the SSNA (Shan State National Army of Gunyawd) offices still open, but they don't carry arms in town," he said. 

Unfortunately, Maj. Pernmao of the Shan State Army "North" of Loimao, together with Capt. Sway Jawng, Sgt. Sangleun and a civilian were found with some side arms on 6 December and arrested, according to the source. 
Lt-Col Yapi, a staff officer from the SSA "North" high command, was reported to have met Capt. Kyaw Hlaing Oo of MI23 (Muse) on Monday to solicit for Pernmao's release. "He went back empty-handed," said the source. 

The source, however, was not sure whether action taken on Pernmao together with the brutal crushing of the Mongkoe ceasefire group of Mong Sala could be interpreted as a message to all groups that have been enjoying ceasefire pact with Rangoon since 1989. "While it appeared that the arrest of Pernmao was an individual case that have nothing to do with the SSA "N", reports are coming that Peng Chia-sheng's Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (Kokang) and Sakhong Ting Ring's National Democratic Army (Kachin) had been given "ultimatum" to disband. (Reports from the south, however, indicate that Wa expansion east of the Salween and Pa-O expansion in the west have been moving "at liberty" with official sanction, said Maihoong.) 

"As for Mong Sala, the survivor from the fighting, there are rumors that he might be tried for drug offenses," he said. "Foreign diplomats were flown to Mongkoe yesterday, that might mean that the operation may be trumpeted as an anti-narcotics campaign." 

Meanwhile, Chinese authorities, at least on the local level in Yunnan, expressed disappointment with the way the operation was carried out. "At least 250 were killed, that included the Burmese (junta), the MDA factions and the civilians caught in the crossfire," he said. "As most of the civilians were of Chinese origin, it's not difficult to see why the Chinese were unhappy about it."

Mongkoe used to be under Peng Chia-sheng before mutiny broke out in 1990. It fell into Mong Sala's control during the in-fighting. The latest mutiny took place, after Mong Sala was accused of practising favoritism, preferring Kachins over members of other racial origins.