A lull before the storm

War

A lull before the storm

A two-day long standstill in the hostilities that broke out between the Wa and the Shans should not have lulled people on both sides of the border into a false security as troops from the 171st Military Region of Wei Hsuehkang has received order to mobilize against the Shan State Army of Col Yawdserk, according to sources from Mongton opposite Chiangmai:

So far only the 171st is engaging in the clashes with the SSA, while the 214th Brigade, based in Hopang, east of Mongton and adjacent to the Sanzu base of Maj Ternkhurh, commander of the SSA's 727th Brigade, opposite Fang district, is as yet out of the fight.

"It's not in our hearts to fight against the Shans, but there are things which the Wa cannot afford to upset the Burmese (military government)," a high ranking officer from the Wa's 418th Division was quoted as saying. "Moreover, Rangoon has promised the border area along the Thai border will be ours once Yawdserk is removed."

If true, this is a rehash of the old formula that had served the Burma Army well a decade earlier when the Wa were able to dislodge Khun Sa's Mong Tai Army, demoralized from in-fightings and mutinies, from Mongyawn, opposite Chiangmai's Mae Ai district. Resettlement of the Wa population forced out from their homes along the Chinese border took place thereafter.

However, if experience is a criterion, throwing out Yawdserk, who had done his stint in the MTA, would not be a walk in th park, according to an ex-Border Patrol Police officer in Mae Ai who had witnessed the seesaw conflict between the Wa and Shans for 14 years, 1982-1996. "The Wa only won the war," he observes, "but not the battles."

The reported difference is that the Burma Army will be supplying the Wa with ammo and rations. In addition, it will provide heavy weapons and, if necessary, artillery support.

The agreement to cooperate against the SSA was reached in mid-February between Rangoon and Panghsang, said a Wa officer in Mongton. And since fighting was reported, Burmese authorities in eastern Shan State have stopped bothering the Wa about surrendering their unregistered vehicles by 31 March, according to sources.

Heavy exchange of fire between the UWSA and SSA flared out on Sunday, 13 March, at Pukha hill, east of Kharngpa, opposite Maehongson's Pang Mapha district. It was followed by an ambush on the SSA patrol the next day near Kawngkha vilage, Namarkti tract, north of Kharngpa. The SSA disclosed it suffered 1 killed and 1 wounded. Casualties on the Wa side were not known.

Heavy fighting is expected soon. "What recently transpired was just a warm up", quipped a Shan officer.