Wa threaten to bring the fight into Thailand

Wa threaten to bring the fight into Thailand

Reacting to the unparalleled buildup of the Thai military along the border since the beginning of the month, some belligerent Wa officers have warned Thailand could expect retaliation well inside the border, report S.H.A.N. sources. 

"Let the Thais know," said an officer from Battalion 57, 171st Brigade of Wei Hsuehkang, at a public gathering yesterday, at Pangyang, 3 miles across from Chiangmai's Wianghaeng District, "we Wa, being poor, have nothing to lose except our lives. But Thailand, being rich, has everything to lose. Once shootings start, our people will reach Chiangmai within the hour." 

Ta Mahasang, former prince of Wiang-ngern, a Wa principality north of Kengtung, and President of the Wa National Organization, gave little credit to the signal from the rival organization of the United Wa State Army. "That's a lot of hot air," he commented, "considering that many of Wei Hseuhkang's partners in Thailand have families and all their assets there. Few of them would be foolhardy enough to take risks." 

He however was quick to point out that did not mean Thailand should relax its internal security measures. 

A long time border watcher also agreed. "There was a report of Wei Hsuehkang and some other Wa commanders proposing hit-and-run military actions inside Thailand," he said, "but it was said to be turned down by the Wa leadership." 

In the meantime, several recent reports spoke of Wa reinforcements coming from the north to Monghsat and Mongton, opposite Chiangmai and Chiangrai provinces. "I saw with my own eyes 13 offroaders with fully armed Wa troops passing through Ta Lerh (north of Tachilek) in the direction of Monghsat yesterday (15 May)," reported one source. "The local people said, 'We heard they had gone home to the north. How come they're back?'" 

One unconfirmed explanation provided by another source was that in addition to Thailand, the Wa were facing pressure from the Burma Army. "The recently arrived LID 55 had demanded Wa warehouses in Mongyawn be made available for official inspection, to which the Wa have flatly refused," she said. 

The 55th Light Infantry Division, on Tuesday (14 May), ordered the mobilization of government-sponsored militia units and civilian porters in the area. "Mongton alone is to provide 400 baggage-handlers," reported a local source yesterday. 

Update: 

S.H.A.N. source, Kengtung, reported on 26 May that a group of ethnic Chinese villagers in Nawng-Ook "Ban Arunothai", under the leadership of Lao Wei, about 50, "dark and heavy", slipped out of the village with "packs" and arms at 08:00 p.m. the previous evening and returned at dawn the next morning. Lao Wei's house is opposite a handphone shop, he said.