Rangoon steps up measures against allies

War

Rangoon steps up measures against allies

The Political Defiance Committee of the National Council of the Union of Burma, an alliance set up by the anti-Rangoon groups, reports today that military authorities of Burma have, since last month, been reinforcing their units around areas under the control of armed groups including those that had concluded ceasefire pacts with Rangoon since 1989.

The report refers to a draft plan "for the dissolution of ethnic armed groups in the highland and border regions" that was endorsed by the War Office at its second 4-month meeting during the third week of August. According to the said strategy, full-strength units would envelop areas controlled by the various armed groups in order to force them to eventually disarm themselves and allow the groups to form political parties instead.

Two new infantry battalions, IB 143 and IB 145, had been located in Hopang township, Kunlong district, adjacent to the Wa area and another, IB 144, in Muse district's Namkham township, one of the Shan State Army 'North' bastion in the last week of August. In addiction, reinforcements and prisoners (to serve as porters for the army) were being dispatched to the Karen and Karenni fronts, opposite Thailand, despite reports of approaching peace talks with the Karen National Union and Karenni National Progressive Party.

S.H.A.N. correspondents, Mawkpao and King Cobra confirmed the arrival of 272 yebets (porter-turned prisoners) in Monghsat district, opposite Chiangmai Province on 1 October. The Shan State Army "South" of Col Yawdserk, whose peace offers have been repeatedly turned down by Rangoon, is known to be active in the area.

Unconfirmed reports received by S.H.A.N.'s Hawkeye also spoke of ongoing attempts by elements in the SSA 'North' to revive its long dormant political wing, the Shan State Progress Party, founded by Sao Sengsuk, who is living in exile, and the late Chao Tzang Yawnghwe, on 16 August 1971.