Wa Army Continues Expansion

Wa Army Continues Expansion

The Was have taken control of most of the eastern part of Khun Sa's Free Territory, sources told S.HA.N. on Friday ( 7 June).

"Loihtwe, the mountain overlooking Thailand, Mongkyawt and Kiu Hulom Pass further north have already been relinquished by the junta forces to the Wa's Division 171, commanded by its chief of staff, Takap aka Yikap with its headquarters in Hopang-Hoyawd," said the source from Mongton.

Division 171 was originally established by Wei Xuegang, the renowned drug warlord. Hopang-Hoyawd, northeast of Mongton, is known for its drug market. (Earlier, it was reported that the expeditionary force was under Wei Hsaitang. It was later clarified to S.H.A.N. by a highly-placed source that Wei Hsaitang had nothing to do with the operation.)

"Out of the three battalions, each 250-strong, one is stationed in Poongpakhem, on the BP1-Mongton road, and the two others are in KiuHulom, Mongkyawt and Loihtwe," he said. "Only a few Burmese soldiers remain in the area.

"The source believed junta troops would continue to be in Homong, Khailong and Pang Maisoong.

The Was had already received 10 million Kyat to overhaul the existing Nakawngmu-Homong road built by Khun Sa ten years ago, according to him. "It is, of course, way below the actual need, but the Was don't seem to mind.

"However, the Was prohibited the local people on 20 June from retail buying and selling of drugs for local consumption. "For those who wish to engage in wholesaling, they are required to apply first for a license from the Wa authorities," he said.

Numberplates for the Wa motor vehicles, estimated at 800 in Mongton Township alone, have also been changed since May, said another source. " Normally, cars in Mongton have ma-ta (MT for Mongton) prefixes before the numbers," he said, "but for the Wa vehicles, the numbers always begin with SW (Southern Wa)." He remarked that it meant these cars were untouchable.

When locals complained to the township authorities about Wa's extravagances, an official was reported to have replied "They are Gen Khin Nyunt's men, and we can do nothing. Nobody, except S-1 (Secretary 1 ) can issue orders to them." 

No Shan State Army official was available for comment.

"The Burmese and whoever is behind them naturally want an all-weather road skirting the Thai border for military use," said a Burma watcher in Thailand.