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EVENTS PRECEDING THE 1996 RELOCATIONS
EVENTS PRECEDING THE 1996 RELOCATIONS |
| In early January 1996, the Shan Mong Tai Army (MTA)
led by Khun Sa surrendered to the SLORC military regime. However, large numbers of ex-MTA
troops refused to surrender, and instead began moving north from the former MTA areas
along the Thai-Burma border to join the other Shan resistance groups, the Shan State Army
and the Shan State National Army, who had ceasefire agreements with the SLORC. These
ex-MTA soldiers regrouped themselves into a new army (the Shan United Revolutionary Army
-- SURA) under the leadership of Major Yord Serk. By late January, 1996, these breakaway Shan troops had crossed to the north of the Salween River, and begun heading north to the area of Larng Kher. Despite SLORC attempts to block their passage, by February they had penetrated into Central Shan State, and began operating as a guerrilla force. The SLORC responded with drastic measures. In early March, they embarked on a systematic program to relocate all villages in suspected rebel areas to towns or sites along main roads and near SLORC army bases. The aim was to prevent the villagers from providing any support to the rebels and therefore force the Shan soldiers to surrender. |
Authorities raising funds for Cyclone Nargis victims