Burmese and Wa

Burmese and Wa "enter Shan fold"

One non-commissioned officer from the Burma Army and two fighters from the United Wa State Army who defected to the Shan State Army "South" were met by S.H.A.N. at the rebel stronghold during its 45th anniversary of Shan resistance celebrations on 21 May. 

Corporal Win Htut, 24, said he had deserted from his unit, Platoon 1, Company 4, Infantry Battalion #65, at Monghta, Mongton Township, opposite Chiangmai's Wianghaeng District on 11 May. "I was banged in the forehead with the stock of M-79 by Sgt Ba Nyunt when I had requested to him to allow us some extra rations of rice," he explained. "We ate two meals a day, but as we had to do hard work all the time, digging and patrolling, we were almost always hungry." 

It took Win Htut, a native of Khayan, a week to cure his injury. As soon as he recovered, he made his escape with an MA 11 rifle. "I was in Hlegu in 1999 helping my uncle with his paddy field when IB 98 took me and forced me to join the army," he recounted. "After spending 4 months at Boot Camp #4 in Thaton, I was sent to the Shan State." 

The two Wa fighters, Lao Hsang, 30, and Ingta, 30, were both from Battalion #4, 171st Military Region and had arrived at Loi Taileng on 19 May and 20 May respectively. "Both of us had joined the army since we were kids, age 10 and 12," said Ingta, who had also brought his wife and an AK-47 rifle. "We were fed up with the practice of exploiting the labor of ordinary soldiers for the personal benefits of the officers in the Wa army." 

The 171st, commanded by Wei Hsueh-kang, has 11 battalions, each averaging only 120 fighters, according to them. "Contrary to general assumption, we are not highly paid," said Lao Hsang, who is an ethnic Kokang Chinese. "Nearly 20 years with the Wa, and I only receive 250 baht per month." 

Both IB 65 and Battalion 4 have bases near the Shan enclaves along the Thai-Burma border.