Dialogue and border conflict just red herrings

Dialogue and border conflict just red herrings, says ceasefire commander 

A high-ranking officer from a ceasefire group in southern Shan State yesterday told S.H.A.N. during a telephone interview of the general skepticism about the closed door dialogue in Rangoon and the hostilities that broke out between Thailand and junta troops early this month. 

The officer, who appeared to be well-informed, said: "The so-called talks between Aung San Suu Kyi and the military are just pieces of jugglery for entertaining our people and the rest of the world. But people are so despairing they can't believe anything anymore until they see something that is really substantial." 

The 4-month-old talks that, according to the UN spokesman, started in October are yet to disclose any breakthough so far. 

With regards to the current Thai-Burmese border disputes, he said: "I can't imagine how a demoralized and bickering army is going to fight an international war. What Gen. Tin Oo had been busy doing before his untimely death (on 19 February) was to visit troops far and near telling them the top brass, contrary to propaganda by BBC, VOA and the likes, were at one with each other." 
"What Rangoon is doing," he said, "is to stir up anti-Thai sentiments to unite the whole nation under the military. They've done this once in 1967 against the Chinese during the rice crisis. They thought the same trick might work again." 

Another source from Tachilek reported that 117 tons of rice arrived at the local depots on Monday (19 February). 

Forced labor was also reported. Villages on both sides of the Kengtung-Tachilek highway (102 miles) are being assigned the job of keeping the road in good condition. Many of the local residents of Tachilek were also seen digging foxholes on Shan State's side of the river Maesai. 

Flash news

A 50-strong Shan State Army force across from Mae Faluang District, Chiangrai, attacked a forward outpost defended by a platoon of junta troops from IB 244 this morning at 0640 and captured it after half an hour long fighting. Channel 7 coverage shows 1 dead soldier and 1 captured alive, as well as a number of mortar shells. 

A 60 mm. mortar was also seized, said Lt-Col Kown Zuen, commander of the Kengtung Front Army, SSA.