Mong Ton township

Mong Ton township lies on the main route from the northern border of Thailand’s Chiang Mai province to Central Shan State. The road from the Nong Ook border-crossing leads directly north for roughly 100 kms along the wide valley of the Nam Hang river to reach Mong Ton. From Mong Ton, it is a further 50 km journey west to the Ta Sang bridge crossing the Salween River into Mong Pan township.

Most of the township’s main villages lie along this main road in the fertile Nam Hang valley. Villagers mainly grow rice, chillies and garlic.

East and south-east Mong Ton (Ho Pang, Mae Ken and Pha Check tracts) 

Since 1994, the UWSA have established a base near the villages of Ho Yawd - Ho Pang, in eastern Mong Ton township, and this remains the main military camp of UWSA Brigade 214 under Ta Rone. Since 1999, villagers from the north have been settled extensively around this area, and also around the Mae Ken area, which lies in the Nam Hang valley.

 Although in most of these areas it appears that the Wa settlers have not directly confiscated the lands of the local villagers, they have been taking over unoccupied houses in existing villages, including houses which had been temporarily vacated by villagers out working in their fields. The newcomers have also cut down bamboo groves planted by local villagers, and planted chillies and lychee trees on the narrow ridges between the existing fields of the original villagers, threatening to fine the villagers if these plants were damaged or died. Such encroachment and intimidation has led to an estimated 15% of the villagers (1,300 out of a total of about 8,700 villagers) fleeing so far. It has been reported that most of these are Shans who have come to seek refuge in Thailand.

 Southern Mong Ton (Mong Hang, Huay Or and Bong Ba Khem tracts)

 There were originally 23 villages, Shan, Lahu, Akha and Lisu, in this area, mainly situated along the main road leading to the Thai border. The area was prosperous, with villagers growing paddy, garlic and soy bean. They would also grow tea, and rear large amounts of buffalo and cows to trade.

 Wei Shao Kang’s Division 171 has set up one of its main bases at Huay Or, on the main road leading to the Thai border. The UWSA has also spread out troops west of this area as far as Mong Jawd, on the road leading west to the official border crossing north of Piang Luang in Thailand’s Chiang Mai province.

Wa civilians have been resettled in these areas since December 2000. As in areas in east and southeast Mong Ton, the Wa settlers have been surrounding and encroaching on the land of the existing villagers. They have cleared large areas of land and have begun planting fruit orchards. It is estimated that about 15% of the original villagers (1,600 people out of a total of 11,000) have fled, mostly Shans who have come to seek shelter in Thailand.