No.07 - 04/2006
17 April 2006

Politics

Wa "invited" to surrender

Reports coming from the border both from Thai and Wa sources say the United Wa State Army has recently been "invited to exchange (their) arms for perpetual peace."

The "invitation" came during a meeting held in Tachilek, opposite Maesai, on Sunday, 9 April, according to a Thai source who is in the logging business. The Wa source, while tight-lipped about the details, nevertheless confirmed the report. "It will be impossible for us to comply," he said.

Significantly, the meeting took place three days after the visit in the city by Lt-Gen Kyaw Win, who commands three military regions: Lashio-based Northeastern, Taunggyi-based Eastern and Kengtung-based Triangle.

The UWSA has its forces placed along the Sino-Burma border from Kokang to Mongla and along the Thai-Burma border from Tachilek to Homong.

Other sketchy reports also indicate Wa supreme leader Bao Youxiang has been taking a break from his administrative and military duties, that were taken over by his brothers Youri and Youliang. The reason for his open-ended leave, though alluded by some to poor health ("he sometimes doesn't even remember his own wife," says one), others are not buying it. "I think he's under heavy pressure to do something about Wei Hsuehkang (commander of the Thai-border based 171st Military Region) who has been blacklisted not only by the United States and Thailand but most recently by China also (on drug charges)".

According to old reports, the cash-trapped UWSA was bailed out by Wei Hsuehkang following its overthrow of the Communist Party of Burma's leadership in 1989.