Ailing Wa leader comes in from the cold

Politics

Ailing Wa leader comes in from the cold

Impact on convention predicted

The world may know only Bao Youxiang due to the American blacklist in 1996 and the multimedia coverage of him since, but among the Wa themselves, the most influential leader is Zhao Yilai, who has decided to return to the political arena from his prolonged retirement brought about by a massive stroke he suffered a decade earlier, according to Ta Mahahsang, leader of the non-ceasefire Wa faction.

"His decision was prompted by Rangoon's announcement last year to resume the long-supended National Convention," said 58-year old former prince of Wiang-ngern, one of the Wa's one-time principalities, who still maintains contact with his erstwhile subject along the Sino-Burma border in the north from the Thai border in the south, where his tiny Wa National Army operates. "Most of his former followers in the United Wa State Army told him it's time he stopped leaving Wa affairs run entirely by the Gang of Nine."

The said Gang of Nine are made up of the 4 Bao brothers: Youri, Youxiang, Youliang and Youhua; the 3 Wei brothers: Li Ziru, the UWSA chief of staff and Li Julieh, deputy chief of staff.

"It was him who appointed the Wa delegation to Rangoon," he added.

Zhao Yilai had led the mutiny in 1989 that toppled the Communist Party of Burma that was weakened by Beijing's withdrawal of assistance in its war against Rangoon. he was later elected as General Secretary of the United Wa State Party, that, in the communistic modus operandi, has precedence over the army.

Shan delegates, who enjoy close relations with the Wa, however, are not immediately able to confirm the developments in their neighboring Panghsang, the Wa Capital. "But U Aung Myint (a.k.a Li Julieh, Wa representative to the National Convention told me he had brought tougher demands with him," said one.

Meanwhile, all Rangoon-based ambassadors and heads of UN agency were reported to have received invitation to attend the opening of the National Convention at 09:00 on Monday, 17 May.

"The ceasefire groups have their work cut out for them, now that the NLD (National League for Democracy) and the SNLD (Shan Nationalities League for Democracy) have each announced their decision not to participate in the convention," said a source in Rangoon.

"Our task is to try our best to widen the space and level the field so all major players can join in the end," he explained. "Nobody is sure whether or not we will succeed, but with every major ceasefire group joining hands together, we have a fighting chance."