Wa fighters deserting Junta troops

Wa fighters deserting Junta troops

The Thai worker, who requested his name withheld, said he saw several Wa fighters that left earlier with junta units returning to Mongyawn just before his departure. One of them reportedly told him of the clash between the Burma Army and the Shan State Army on 10 February between Mongliang and Paleep villages in Mongpiang Township. "It ended inconclusively," the fighter said. 

"But henceforth the Burmese would place us in the vanguard that didn't make us feel right." 
The Wa told him that they had brought down thousands of their people down to the border areas where they would be defenseless against the SSA's punitive campaigns if there were any. Besides, the Wa had invested so much in developing the area that they could not afford a war with the Shans that would result in hundreds of millions of baht in loss. 

"We therefore decided to leave them," he said. It was also believed that Burma Army units were not anxious for a fight with the Shans either. 

Lt.-Col. Kawnzuen from Loi Kawwan, opposite Chaingrai Province, also told S.H.A.N. the Wa had ceased their tunnel-digging activities for some time now. 

Earlier reports said the Wa were engaging in building tunnels towards Shan positions.