Junta vanguard stalled by mines

Junta vanguard stalled by mines

Burma Army's advance guards marching towards their border post occupied on Sunday by the Shans ran into a minefield last night, said a Shan State Army source. 

Elements from IB 227 (Mongkhark) and LIB 519 (Mongton) that arrived in the neighborhood of Pakhee base, opposite Doi Angkhang, Fang District of Chiangmai Province, came upon a minefield last night. 

The army source said he heard explosions during the night but that all was still quiet this morning. 

Apart from the local troops of Mongton, units from the neighboring Monghsat are on their way to help dislodge the Shans from Pakhee, said a border watcher form Fang. 

The Shan force in the area is under the command of Lt-Col Awngkham under whom are Lt-Col Khunjaw of Brigade 241 and Maj Khiaofah of Khunsang Tonhoong Column. 

"Pakhee can be reached through 3 routes," said the border watcher. 

1. "From Maeken, 15 miles south of Mongton, through Loisarng and BP-2. It is the longest and the attacking forces will have to march on foot all the way. 

2. From Nakawngmu, 20 miles further south. It is shorter but there is still no motor road to Pakhee. 

3. From Pungpakhem, 15 miles south of Nakawngmu and 15 miles north of BP-1. They can go by truck until Namhukhun 5 miles further east and march north to Pakhee. It is the shortest." 

The Shan State Army is commanded by Yawdserk, whose group already made headlines since February when the pursuing Burma Army clashed with Thai border forces. 

It is believed to be the strongest among the three armed resistance movements along the Thai border. The other two are Karen National Union/ Karen national Liberation Army and Karenni National Progress Party / Karenni Army. 

Commenting on the situation, Analytica Birmanie, a private thinktank, said: "The new round of fighting (along the border) might indicate disillusionment with the current talks in Rangoon and the loud silence from it."