Battle in Loihtwe

Battle in Loihtwe: Let's hope it's not going to be another Loilang

There is an old Shan saying:
"Don't trade with the Chinese;

Don't fight with the Wa." Not because they are treacherous or untrustworthy, but each of them is stubborn in their own specialized field.

Still, Shans under warlord Khun Sa fought against their better judgment with the Wa in Loilang (Doilang in Thai), between Monghsat (Shan State) and Mae-ai (Thailand) for 14 years with thousands of losses of lives and resources on both sides. However, it was never considered a war between proxies, which it was but only trumpeted as a 'war for drugs' between druglords. Moreover, both, even as they were fighting, knew they were only serving the cause of the Rangoon authorities. 

Ceasefires and peace talks were conducted only to be broken, according to sources on both sides, by Khun Sa. Only his surrender in January 1996 ended the conflict. 

Thus, when in mid June the Wa replaced the Burmese unit in Loihtwe (Doithuay in Thai) for area security, fear began to mount among concerned Shans and Wa alike of the likelihood of a new drawn-out war that would benefit neither and only serve the purpose of Rangoon. Yawdserk, whether he liked or not, would be dubbed another druglord by those who stood to gain by giving him a bad name and not as a warrior against drugs, a title he appeared to be looking forward to. 

Yet, despitc warnings by those concerned, such a conflict appears to be in the making. The first report was about a broken appointment between the two in August. Then earlier this month came another report about Shans' seizure of allegedly Wa drugs. To which the Wa retaliated by catching an unexpecting 6-men patrol of Shans and turning them over to the Burmese authorities on 8 September. 

Then came reports from Lahu sources that Rangoon would be employing three divisions, namely, LID 77, LID 88 and LID 99, ostensibly to battle against "drug trafficking" Karen, Karenni and Shan rebels, but in reality to ease off international pressure over its crackdown on Aung San Suu Kyi. 

The battle started on 23 September. That it does not escalate into a Shan-Wa conflict is in the interests of all those who want freedom and democracy in this wartorn land called Burma, or Myanmar, whatever. 
On their part, it would be a mistake for the United Wa State Army to think fighting Yawdserk would be a walk in the park. Because it is not going to be. For one thing, Yawdserk is known to be a formidable fighter and capable tactician. Even Burmese commanders acknowledge this, though grudgingly. Besides, he is not going to engage in a posititional warfare like Khun Sa did. For another, Shans, like Wa, have been known to be great fighters as well. Doilang was a good example. The Wa only won the war but not the battles.

Therefore, drugs or no drugs, the war is not worth it. There must be better ways to fight the drug war anyway. The crucial thing now is that both parties and all their well-wishers must try to stop it before it is too late and the vicious circle returns.