Junta and Wa continue buildup

Junta and Wa continue buildup

Rangoon and Wa forces are building up their positions along the border, said sources coming across the border. 

On Saturday (4 November), a 100-strong unit from LIB 330 (Mongphyak) arrived in Khailong, opposite Pang Mapha District of Maehongson. As least 100 troops of LIB 329 (also Mongphyak) already there in the area in order to check the movements of Yawdserk's Shan State Army, which was reported to be active in the area. 

Since 26 October, minor clashes have been reported, prompting the local junta command to force the local populace to stand sentinel over the Nakawngmu-Homong road, west of Mongton. 

It was also confirmed by another source close to the Wa army that Gen Khin Nyunt, the powerful Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), has assigned the United WA State Army to cooperate in border security and "development" during a meeting with Pao Yuchang, the Wa commander-in-chief in mid October. (Gen. Khin Nyunt was attending the joint military drills at the time, according to S.H.A.N. report # 10 - 11). 

The Wa leader was reported to have asked Gen Khin Nyunt whether he was trying to destroy both the Shans and Was indirectly, which the latter denied, saying his motive was sincere. 

The source from the Wa said, "No matter what the agreements are between Rangoon and Panghsang, it is up to the SSA to decide whether or not the Wa should declare war on them. So far the SSA has not managed to convince the UWSA that its intentions towards the latter are not hostile." 

The source confirmed the Wa actively took part in the 22-23 September fight that erupted between the junta and Shan forces near Loihtwe, between Thailand's Chiangdao District and Shan State's Mongton Township. "We lobbed most of our grenades against them, but they were lucky that few exploded," he said. "The reason is we are still equipped with our arsenal of the Loilang Battle(1982 - 96)." 

The Wa would henceforth be jointly responsible for security from Mongton in the east to Mae Aw in the west, where Shan State, Thailand and the Karenni meet, he said.