Resettlement locations

The list below shows the approximate breakdown and location of the populations resettled from the northern Wa area to southern Shan State from 1999 to the end of 2001. It is estimated that of the total below, about 50,000 people were brought down from the north during the dry season of 1999-2000, while most of the rest were brought down during the following 2000-2001 dry season.

Wa settlers in the south

It can be seen that the majority of the new resettlers were moved to Mong Hsat township. Clearly, the UWSA wanted to consolidate their position at their southern enclave of Mong Yawn, in southern Mong Hsat township, on the Thai border. The Mong Yawn valley, shielded on all sides by mountains, remains a strategic base for the UWSA. Apart from settling almost 30,00 civilians in the Mong Yawn area itself, the UWSA has placed the majority of the rest of the settlers in valleys to the north, north-west, north-east, and west of Mong Yawn, in other words expanding their territory and forming a strategic barrier around the Mong Yawn stronghold.

Reasons for moving settlers to other areas in the neighbouring townships, such as Bong Ba Khem in Mong Ton and Paliao-Kenglarp in Tachilek, appear to be more closely related to trade. Over 16,000 settlers have been placed along and to the west of the road leading from the major Nong Ook border crossing point in Thailand to Mong Ton.

Similarly, in mid-2001, the UWSA began moving settlers to the Paliao-Kenglarp area east of Tachilek, on the west bank of the Mekhong River at Pa Laew-Kaeng Larb, opposite Laos. There are plans to develop this area of the Mekhong into a major trading and tourist route joining southern China and Thailand.

In late 2001, the UWSA also began preparing to move settlers into the Nong Yon area of Mong Piang township. This area lies along the road joining Mong Piang and Mong Hsat towns, one of the main routes linking the southern and northern Wa areas, and thus may represent a gradual expansion intended eventually to link the two areas. However, the UWSA has a concession to dig for gold in the area, so the move is clearly also linked to economic interests.

In most of these areas, the newcomers were made to settle in new villages set up beside roads (sometimes newly constructed) in valley locations, usually near existing villages. It should be noted that the Wa are not traditionally valley-dwellers.