Wa taking over junta offensive against Shans

Wa taking over junta offensive against Shans 

An insider source reported S.H.A.N. today that the first wave troops from the United Wa State Army have arrived in the area once known as the Free Territory of Shan State. 

The source told S.H.A.N. news reports about Light Infantry Divisions to take over the offensive against Yawdserk's Shan State Army were just red herrings. "This is the real thing", he said. "The first wave of the 5 battalions from Wei Xiaokang's 171st Division are arriving in the Mongtaw-Monghta area (west of Mongton-Poongpakhem road), and 7 more are still waiting for movement orders". 

He said he did not know whether the local Burmese units would be withdrawn, but only that the Wa have been given a free hand. Col. Win Kyi, until lately the area military operations commander (MOC), has been dismissed after a series of counter attacks by the SSA followed the Burmese assault on Loilam (Doidam in Thai) opposite Wianghaeng District, Chiangmai Province, on 5-6 November. Another officer, Lt-Col. Chit Hla, commander of LIB 225 (Mongton), due to rotate back to Mongton, was instead ordered to launch a search-and-destroy operation as punishment. His replacement, Lt-Col. Aye Kyaw, commander, IB 43 (Mongpiang), has already arrived in Pang Maisoong HQ a week ago. 

(A 5,000 baht compensation for 2 assault rifles lost to the SSA on 17 November was imposed on the villagers, reported Saeng Khao Haeng.) 

The source, highly reliable so far, said: "The Wa shall be waging a three-month long '4-cuts' campaign in the area east fo the Maekun (a Salween tributary further west) just like the Burmese have been doing in Central and Southern Shan State. There will be no quarter for anybody suspected of connection with the SSA. Already more than 20-suspects from Nakawngmu, Huey Aw and Poonpakhem have been arrested by the Wa." 

The reason for the Wa presence, he said, was Rangoon knew too well to what extent it would cause international outrage if the junta forces themselves were to be involved in the operation "So they are handing over to the Wa to do the dirty job". 

The only silver lining in the cloud, he said, is that 6-SSA men captured by the Wa in September are still alive and well-fed in Mongyawn. "It is a signal to Yawdserk that they're still open to initiative for negotiations from him".