Locals fear escalation of Shan

Locals fear escalation of Shan-Wa fight

Thai villagers told S.H.A.N. yesterday they hoped the latest fighting between the Shan State Army and the United Wa State Army would not spread into Thai territory.

"It may be their idea of having fun," said a villager of Muangna, Chiangdao District, Chiangmai Province, opposite Mongton Township, Monghsat District, eastern Shan State. "But both should know it's always the people who suffer."

The three-day-long see-saw fighting that calmed down yesterday, according to the Shan source, began when a 50-men Company 3 led by Captain Ba Htoon of the SSA's Battalion 401, Brigade 727, returned from their patrol back to Base 91, the Brigade headquarters, opposite Muangna on 14 March. The column was ambushed by a unit from the UWSA's Battalion 617, commanded by Ta Marn of 171st Division at 16:30. During the one hour clash, the Shans managed to extricate themselves leaving one dead and losing an AK 47 automatic rifle. The Wa also suffered 2 dead (one of whom was identified as Sgt. Ai Sook) and one wounded, according to the SSA.

The retreating Shans were then shelled by the Wa for ten minutes at 18:00. Two days later, the Wa decided to carry the fight to the Shan base. "Explosions of mortar shells and machine guns could be heard distinctly from the village," said another villager.

Shans said they were also taken off-guard by the attack of the Wa who until then were "not exactly hostile if not exactly friendly." One officer attributed the hostility to the change of the UWSA's deputy battalion commander from Ja Htaw to Ta Parng.

The 171st Division has up to 16 battalions, according to some Thai sources. One of them, the 615th (commanded by Ta Lu) faces Loi Taileng, the SSA's supreme headquarters; another, the 616th (commanded by Hsiao Long), faces Loilam base, opposite Wianghaeng district, Chiangmai province, and the 614th (commanded by Yang Kuojong) faces Loi Kawwan, opposite Chiangrai province.

The division's headquarters is also reported to have moved from Banhoong, north of Mongyawn, in Monghsat township to Hwe Aw, roughly halfway between Mongton and Nawng Ook, Chiangdao district. The day-to-day affairs of the division is handled by Wei Hsuehying, younger brother of Wei Hsuehkang.

The UWSA has recently been designated as a terrorist group as well as a drug gang by the United States.