Shan commander

Shan commander: Attack to prevent building strategic road

A series of attack on a Burmese battalion being carried out by Shan State Army since Tuesday, 14 May, was to frustrate its attempts to repair the roadway along the border, the completion of which might compromise the existence of Shan enclaves, said the SSA's chief of staff this morning. 

"We need to nip it in the bud," said Lt-Col Khurh-ngern, 53, in reply to S.H.A.N.'s question on the object of the exercise. 

The Burmese had since the beginning of May started repairing the 85-mile thoroughfare from Homong, opposite Muang District, Maehongson Province to Monghta, opposite Wianghaeng District, Chiangmai Province, he explained. 

The road was originally built by ex-warlord Khun Sa in 1989. 

The operation had so far resulted in at least 2 killed and 13 wounded on the Burmese side and 2 wounded on the Shan side, according to SSA reports. 

The SSA's 756th Brigade had also shelled Mongpan, across the Salween, at 17:30 on 15 May. The Burmese thought it might be an attempt to divert Rangoon's impending offensive along the border, said a border watcher quoting intercepted radio messages. 

Border sources also claimed units from Light Infantry Divisions, the 55th and 66th, have arrived in Mongton and Monghsat, opposite Chiangmai and Chiangrai provinces. However they were unable to say whether the Burma Army's target was the SSA or the United Wa State Army, reputed to be the world's biggest drug producer. 

Meanwhile, the Thai army that has been busy deploying hundreds of tanks along the border was insistent that the whole thing was merely "a drill".