Border calms down but back-up continues

War

Border calms down but back-up continues

Four days after three major clashes that took place between the Burma Army and the Shan State Army "South," 6-7 August, the battlefield across Chiangmai is deceptively quiet, while reports of Burmese reinforcements keep coming in dispatches, according to sources, both Thai and Shan, on the border.

More than 400 fresh troops were reported in Mongton township, opposite Chiangmai, since 8 August following the two-day hostilities that, according to the SSA's battle bulletin, left 4 dead and 12 wounded on the Burma Army's side and 2 wounded on the SSA side. Meanwhile, Thai military sources quoted a Burmese commander reporting 2 dead and 3 wounded on the rebels' side.

"We can't confirm the casualty figures by either side," commented a Thai colonel, "but so far no rebel soldiers have come to receive treatment on the Thai side for their wounded."

The Thai Army officers also expressed unhappiness with what they termed as "over-reaction" by the Burma Army that had employed heavy weapons, including 81 mm, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars, against the rebels, 4 of which fell inside Thai territory. No damage was reported. "Altogether, we counted 74 shells fired by the Burmese, 54 on 6 August and 20 on 7 August," said a Thai source.

During the third clash, Shan fighters were able to seize a Chinese-made M-23 submachine gun abandoned by the retreating Burmese troops, prompting a debate whether or not the United Wa State Army, Rangoon's principal ally, also took part in the attack.

Considering the arrival of new troops, Col Yawdserk, leader of the SSA, said, "They are likely replacements, not reinforcements," which contradicted the Third Army's Pha Muang Force Commander Maj-Gen Manas Paorik saying he was informed in advance of the Burmese attack on the SSA positions. (Re: SSA repulses junta's troops, Bangkok Post, 9 August)

At present, there are three Burmese battalions deployed opposite Chiangmai's Wiang Haeng district and Maehongson's Pai district: Infantry Battalions 226 (opposite Wiang Haeng) and 133 (opposite Pai) and Light Infantry Battalion 314 in Monghta. Presence of units from IB 225, IB 278, IB 43 and LIB 333 in the area are also reported.

The Burma Army also charged the SSA of starting the fight, to which the SSA countered by saying it was at first an unexpected encounter between patrols to which the Burma Army had reacted with overwhelming fire power in order to create misunderstandings between the SSA and Thailand.

The SSA and its allies, Karen National Union and Karenni National Progress Party, had on 7 March 2003, acceded to Thailand's "request" that they would "behave ourselves and avoid starting a fight along the Thai-Burma border," according to Col Yawdserk.

The Thai Army, according to Thai sources, is anxious to see that nothing untoward takes place until Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's 72nd birthday, 12 August, is over.