No.06 - 02/2006
10 February 2006

Politics

Wa chief associate has a near miss

The United Wa State Army leader Bao Youxiang has recovered from his year long illness but his deputy chief of staff narrowly escaped from an assassination attempt on Tuesday, 7 February, according to sources from the border.

Zhao Guo-ang, 50, could count himself lucky when the parcel bomb failed to explode, when he opened it up sometime between 06:30  07:00. Somehow the small explosion from the detonator did not ignite the TNT and he got off only with a few scratches, said sources. According to sources, a young man arrived at his home in Nalawt, outside the Wa capital of Panghsang, about six in the morning, and being told that Zhao was still in bed, left a small parcel with the instruction to open it up and call the number enclosed inside. Zhao Guo-ang

Zhao Guo-ang, a veteran of the war against Khun Sa, 1989-96, is also chief of logistics for the Wa army and has accumulated enemies "while doing his job," according to a source.

Security has been tightened in Panghsang as a result, especially with regards to newcomers. "There were no more than 40-Burma Army men who were permitted by the UWSA to be stationed in Panghsang," says one Shan businessman." But now we are seeing hundreds of Burman civilians within the town limits."

Bao Youxiang meanwhile appears to have been cured of his indisposition caused by eating improperly cooked meat. He was said to have spent 3 months in China to rid himself of worms infesting his brain. "He often has memory lapses, headaches and can't walk straight. Sometimes he doesn't remember what you have told him," reported Bangkok Post, 27 November 2005, quoting one of his aides.

A Thai businessman in Chiangrai's Chiangsaen district also confirmed this morning Bao is back in Panghsang after spending a month at his hometown of Kunma, north of Panghsang, on his return from China. "He called me up on 29 January to send his Chinese New Year greetings," he said. "He said he was still weak, but otherwise healthy and sound."

His home-coming has been welcomed by his colleagues as well as allies who, since their staunchest backer Gen Khin Nyunt was ousted late 2004, have been reeling under pressure to renounce their arms by the Burma Army.

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