Policy on Wa needs drastic review

Policy on Wa needs drastic review, says Shan officer

A top officer from the Shan State Army that had successfully repulsed the combined Burmese-Wa offensive in the first round told S.H.A.N. that what happened last week had decidedly proven the failure of the Shans' 'constructive engagement policy' for Wa. 

"Despite Thai and American tough policy towards them (United Wa State Army), we have never attacked them publicly in the past," said the officer, who is also a member of the SSA's ruling body, Restoration Council of Shan State. "Our publication, Freedom News, had always written sympathetic articles about them. We have never joined the bandwagon against them." 

The SSA, he said, had also tried to establish better communications with Panghsang in the past though admittedly without much success. The officer, however, refused to dwell further on the subject. 
"We could also have attacked them together with the Burmese troops in Pang Maisoong (opposite Wianghaeng District, Chiangmai Province), but we had deliberately left their Pang Surhtao camp (3 km north of Pang Maisoong) alone. We just requested them either to leave or join us." 

The Shans' feeling turned to bitterness, when the Wa decided to team up with the attacking Burmese forces, he claimed. 

"From now on, the UWSA (United Wa State Army) should be treated as it is --- a drug running organization," he said. 

That did not mean the non-military means was over between them, he assured S.H.A.N. "We're still brothers." 

Reports received by S.H.A.N. indicated that Wa had suffered more casualties than the Burma Army. On 7 June alone, according to Shan estimates, the Burmese had sustained 60 killed and wounded while the Wa suffered 110. 

Shans and Wa had already fought a six year war (1990-96) that ended in favor of the United Wa State Army after warlord Khun Sa's offer to surrender was accepted by Rangoon. 

Flash

Shan State Army sources reported at 12:30 that a Wa unit facing the Shans in Pang Maisoong had turned against the Burmese troops by firing and shelling Hwe Yao, 3 km northeast of Pang Maisoong. 
The cause is yet to be known at the time of this reporting. 

13:30 / 11 June 2002