Shan rebels say they will not start the fight

Shan rebels say they will not start the fight

War on the border

According to a statement issued by the Shan armed resistance yesterday (1 January 2003), following the conclusion of its 5-day annual meeting, 26-29 December, it had resolved that the Shan State Army would not fight any battles along the Thai-Burma border unless the Burma Army launched the attack first. 

"Since we have opted for political means in order to resolve existing disputes with Rangoon," said Nang Khurhsen Heng-awn, Spokeswoman for the Restoration Council of Shan State, the SSA's political wing, "the ball is in its court now." 

Rangoon, on the other hand, had rejected to confer a ceasefire status to the SSA "South" of Col Yawdserk just as it had to other armed groups such as the United Wa State Army and the SSA "South". It has steadfastly called for total submission, a demand that has invariably been countered by outright dismissal from the SSA "South". 

Thailand, on the other hand, had requested Burma not to launch military operations along the border between January and March, as the royal family, would be touring the north during these months, according to Bangkok Post. The clash that broke out on 25 March last year between the Burma Army's ally, the UWSA, and the Thai Army, had compelled HM Queen Sirikit to cancel her trip to one of the border villages in Chiangmai's Wianghaeng District. It was not reported how Rangoon had responded to the request. 

"The Burmese are ready to pounce on us anytime now," said an SSA source. "They are only waiting for the green light from Rangoon." 

Meanwhile, sources from America and Europe have reported that Rangoon is planning to put up the SSA "South"'s leader as Burma's new "drug kingpin," succeeding retired warlords Khun Sa and his predecessor, Law Hsinghan. 

One of the SSA's guiding principles is Anti-Narcotics. It has also waged a number of anti-drug operations since 1998, many of which have implicated the Burma Army in the drug trade. However, skeptics in Thailand say they still receive intermittent reports on some SSA members "who are still allowed to go scot free despite their involvement." 

"All the same, compared to the Wa, they are indeed very small, small fish," a Thai security officer conceded. 

Other resolutions from the annual meeting include: 

• Formation of a drug survey committee 

• Anti-terrorism

• To form allies with other groups on the existing "8 States" basis: Arakan, Burman, Chin, Kachin, Karen, Karenni, Mon and Shan.