Noose tightening around Shan bases

Noose tightening around Shan bases

A flurry of military activities by the Burma Army along the Shan-Thai border since the beginning of the month has been keeping Thai security officials on edge, according to military sources. 

"Reports of Burmese troops patrolling near the border are not new," acknowledged one officer. "But this time the patrols are more frequent and reinforced, up to nearly a hundred men." 

Villagers also spoke of running into Burmese columns while they went into the hills and forests. "Some have been shot at and luckier ones were warned off," said a native of Nakawngmu, a village in Mongton Township, across Chiangmai's Chiangdao District on 25 April. "Three of our villagers went to collect fire wood and only two got back. Zai Saw is still missing and feared lost." 

He added that friendly Wa officers had already been advising people not to stray outside village limits for the time being. 

Wei Hsuehying, acting commander of the 171st "Military Region", with headquarters in Hwe Aw, 6 miles south of Nakawngmu, had received a "gift of arms" - 300 AK-47s with curved magazines - from the Burmese military on 17 April. "They have also been authorized to conscript Shans into the UWSA (United Wa State Army)," said a resident of Hwe Aw. "Some Shan youths coming from west of the Salween had already been forced to enlist in the Wa Army." 

The UWSA had joined Burmese operations against the Shan State Army "South" of Col Yawdserk last year. It had again received an "invitation" to join a forthcoming offensive on 27 March, during the Armed Forces Day celebrations, said a source. "It may also be a reward for the seizure of a rival group's refinery on 30 March," commented a Thai source. 

Most recently, 2 border outposts, abandoned since 2001 -- BP2 and Loi Man Htawng, both opposite Chiangmai's Fang District -- were being restored by elements from Light Infantry Battalion 360 and Infantry Battalion 43 in an attempt to block movements by the Shan rebels stationed at the nearby Hpabawng Base under the command of Lt-Col Awng Kham. 

Shan commander Khurh-Ngern, Col Yawdserk's deputy, however, expressed doubts about pending offensive against its bases. "We are still looking for concrete signs," he said. "So far the reports are about arrivals of anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons that rather indicate that if there be any offensive it may be against foreign troops." 

Last year's Shan-Junta fight along the border coincided with Thailand's Surasi war game, prompting Rangoon to accuse Bangkok of being in league with the Shan rebels. 

The Burmese are also preparing another war game of their own, he mentioned. "More than a thousand troops will be involved in the maneuvers to be held in May at Kengtawng (Mongnai Township, 100 miles southeast of Taunggyi)," he claimed. 

Nakhaozao, a 100-acre former rice field (east of the Teng and west of Pasa, a village southeast of Tonhoong) had already been used for the maneuvers staged last year following the Pang Maisoong Battle between Burma's Mongton Township and Thailand's Chiangmai. 

Military actions so far have been sporadic. On 21 April, the SSA reported an ambush by Brigade 759 between Mongnai and Langkhurh that destroyed 1 BE military truck, killing 6 and wounding several. 

Sources in Mongton also reported a raid by the SSA's 727th Brigade on Pongpakhem, 10 miles from the border in Mongton Township, on 28 April, between 0100-0300, that left 1 Burmese soldier killed and 2 wounded. 

Update:

Several killings were reported by the patrols:

2 February
7 farmers, including 3 women, with safe conducts issued by local authorities from Laikha in Haihseng, a village abandoned during the 1996-98 forced relocation by LIB 264. 

29 March
2 monks: U Uttama and Sanglong Kaw at Loikong Cave Temple, Kunhing Township, by IB 246. 

1 April
Zai Kaw, 8, a boy accused as an offspring of the rebels by the same column at the abandoned village of Longmaw. 

The 246 was reported to be wearing Chinese made shoes that the Kali villagers had been forced to buy for the army in February. 

6 April
Kham Hsai, 31, of Mongton's Hpakhay village tract, who was "employed" as a guide by IB 277. His fault: he knew the area too well.