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Rebel leader ‘did not surrender, only made peace
Former Shan State Army (SSA) brigade commander Col Moengzuen denied yesterday that he had capitulated to the Burma Army as reported by S.H.A.N. Saturday....
No.04 - 07/2006
5 July 2006
Politics
Former Shan State Army (SSA) brigade commander Col Moengzuen denied yesterday that he had capitulated to the Burma Army as reported by S.H.A.N. Saturday (1 July), according to a source in northern Shan State.
Col Moengzuen
“He called me up today and said he had only made peace with the Burma Army,” recounted the source who spoke on condition of anonymity. “He would still be allowed to keep his arms and given an area where he could operate.”
The source said Moengzuen had held a meeting with a “G-1” officer at Panglaw village, Mongnim tract, Kehsi Township, 3 days after he had “gone over”. According to the preliminary agreement, pending approval by Rangoon:
“He had refused to adopt the label Shan State Army South (Splinter Group) as suggested by the G-1,”said the source.
It is still unclear whether Moengzuen’s little band would be recognized as a pro-Rangoon militia force or as a ceasefire group like the Wa, Kokang and SSA-North.
Other sources however argue that since Moengzuen had made a de facto surrender, the likelihood of being accorded the same status as the Wa, Kokang and others is slim, “unless Rangoon believes he is as strong as he claims and thus can serve as an effective tool in its war against Loi Taileng (SSA-South base on the Thai-Burma border).”
Moengzuen’s force, according to himself, was 2,727 strong when he announced his support for the Interim Shan Government (ISG) formed by a group of expatriates that declared independence last year.
Meanwhile, the ISG members in Thailand have rebuffed the reports of Moengzuen’s surrender as a propaganda exercise by Loi Taileng. “If he had really surrendered, why have we not heard it from Rangoon’s media?” retorted one senior member when questioned yesterday.
Related report: Rebel leader goes AWOL, 1 July 2006
5 July 2006
Politics
Rebel leader ‘did not surrender, only made peace’
Former Shan State Army (SSA) brigade commander Col Moengzuen denied yesterday that he had capitulated to the Burma Army as reported by S.H.A.N. Saturday (1 July), according to a source in northern Shan State.
Col Moengzuen“He called me up today and said he had only made peace with the Burma Army,” recounted the source who spoke on condition of anonymity. “He would still be allowed to keep his arms and given an area where he could operate.”
The source said Moengzuen had held a meeting with a “G-1” officer at Panglaw village, Mongnim tract, Kehsi Township, 3 days after he had “gone over”. According to the preliminary agreement, pending approval by Rangoon:
- Mongzuen and his men would be assigned either to Laikha, 79 miles northeast of Taunggyi, or Kehsi, 69 miles further.
- His group would be renamed Shan State People’ Army (SSPA).
“He had refused to adopt the label Shan State Army South (Splinter Group) as suggested by the G-1,”said the source.
It is still unclear whether Moengzuen’s little band would be recognized as a pro-Rangoon militia force or as a ceasefire group like the Wa, Kokang and SSA-North.
Other sources however argue that since Moengzuen had made a de facto surrender, the likelihood of being accorded the same status as the Wa, Kokang and others is slim, “unless Rangoon believes he is as strong as he claims and thus can serve as an effective tool in its war against Loi Taileng (SSA-South base on the Thai-Burma border).”
Moengzuen’s force, according to himself, was 2,727 strong when he announced his support for the Interim Shan Government (ISG) formed by a group of expatriates that declared independence last year.
Meanwhile, the ISG members in Thailand have rebuffed the reports of Moengzuen’s surrender as a propaganda exercise by Loi Taileng. “If he had really surrendered, why have we not heard it from Rangoon’s media?” retorted one senior member when questioned yesterday.
Related report: Rebel leader goes AWOL, 1 July 2006
Poppy cultivation soars in Kayah State
Col Moengzuen