'Slain' commander returns to life

No.03 - 4/2007
4 April 2007
Politics

'Slain' commander returns to life
 
A trusted confidant of a Shan State Army (SSA) South commander, whose death has been publicized for months by a rival group, visited S.H.A.N. yesterday to announce he is still very much alive and kicking.
 
"That was propaganda," said Lt-Col Pawngkher, 43, of Victory Column, who was, according to his erstwhile comrade Lt-Col Moengzuen, "killed in action" during a two-hour long fight in Mongkeung, 108 miles northeast of the state capital Taunggyi, on 28 December 2006.
 

^{Lt-Col Pawngkher}

The news of his death was repeated in vivid details by in places as far as Bangkok and Muse, which was to no one's surprise vehemently denied by the SSA. But it wasn't until the visit by his confidant when all doubts were dispelled.
 
The battle took place near Nam Nieb, Yangloi tract, 3 miles east of Mongkeung, where Pawngkher's 60-strong command unit was surrounded by a 120-strong combined Burma Army and militia force. The outnumbered SSA men were able to put the attackers to rout by a resolute counter attack in which 2 of their men including Radioman Leng Awng were killed. On the Burma Army's side, 28 reportedly fell. "Lt-Col Myo Myint Kyaw (Commander of the Light Infantry Battalion 516) could also be among the casualties, if it weren't for the fact that he was such a good runner,' Pawngkher was quoted as saying.
 
The Burma Army meanwhile has a different story: the rebels were routed, leaving 3 dead, while the Burma Army itself suffered 5 dead (2 Burma Army, 2 militia and 1 porter).
 

^{Lt-Col Moengzuen}

Lt-Col Moengzuen, until 27 April 2005 when he announced his allegiance to the then newly formed "Interim Shan Government" (ISG), was commander of the SSA South's 758th Brigade that was active in the area, known as Six Corners: Loilem, Laikha, Mongkeung, Kehsi, Mongnawng and Namzang. He was said to be 2,727 strong at that time. However when the 300-strong Victory Column led by Pawngkher turned up in the Six Corners last year to "invite" him back to Loi Taileng, the SSA's main base, he suddenly switched his allegiance to the Burma Army.