Wa closing shop

Drugs

Wa closing shop

All refineries in Wa-controlled portions of Mongton and Monghsat townships, opposite Maehongson, Chiangmai and Chiangrai provinces, have been ordered to suspend their activities by Wa authorities following recent order for senior officials along the Thai-Burma border to attend an emergency meeting in Panghsang, the Wa capital on the Chinese border, report Hawkeye and King Cobra:

On 24 October, Ta Roong, Commander of the 214th Brigade of the United Wa State Army, based in Hopang-Hoyawd, Mongton township, told his assistants he would be leaving for Panghsang very soon and wanted all factories in the area to close off until further notice. "If possible, I'd like all our merchandise sold off, even if it's half the regular price," he was said to have instructed his subordinates. "You will also buy no more raw material. All the rest must be wrapped up properly and put away in a safe place".

The "regular price", wholesale for buyers from Thailand, is 10 baht. Local retail price is 350 kyat (14 baht, $ 0.35).

All battalion commanders and upwards from the 171st Military Region, commanded by Wei Hsuehkang, were to arrive in Panghsang by yesterday, 26 October.

Apart from business, all Wa military bases have been put on full alert since 20 October, the day after Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt, regarded as the Wa's patron, was dismissed. "In addition, all motor vehicles must be serviceable at all times," a junior Wa officer in Hwe Aw said. "There must be no trucks lying useless, we were told."

Bo La Kham

Mahasang

The flap in the Wa army followed a meeting in Lashio, northern Shan State, between Bo La Kham, the UWSA's Deputy Commander in Chief, and Maj Gen Myint Hlaing, Commander of the Burma Army's Northeastern Region Command, on 21 October, according to Ta Mahasang, President of the non-ceasefire Wa National Organization. "According to what we've heard, Myint Hlaing's message was no different from what he had given to other groups," the 59-year old former Wa prince of Wiang-ngern recounted. "One, no policy change, just personnel change; and two, the Wa must deal with the Army and not the MIS (Military Intelligence Service) from now on."

Mahasang was puzzled at the reports of frenzied activities from the Thai border. "Common sense says Rangoon will not crave trouble from the outside, while it is sweeping its own house clean," he said. "I wonder whether Panghsang is just overreacting or it has been told something else apart from what we've heard."

Deputy Senior General Maung Aye was reported as ordering the UWSA to move out from areas along the Thai border in 1996, following the surrender of Khun Sa, whom it had been fighting against. "Only the intervention of Gen Khin Nyunt had saved the day fro the Wa," a Shan officer form the UWSA had told S.H.A.N..

Thai authorities also appear to be anticipating an outbreak of hostilities across the border. All village authorities in Chiangmai's Fang facing Shan State's Mongton received a directive from the district officer yesterday instructing them to organize holding centers for refugees in the event of war.

According to Bangkok Post, 24 October, the Thai Army believes a crackdown on Wa is imminent.