Army bombards village of allies

War

Army bombards village of allies

A border village controlled by a pro-government militia group was razed to the ground by unanticipated shelling by a Burma Army unit last Tuesday, 22 February, according to Shan and Thai sources:

Paker, a 24-household Akha village in Tachilek's Loi Tawkham tract, opposite Chiangmai's Mae Fah Luang district, was pounded with 60 mm mortar shells between 03:00 - 05:00, destroying 21 homes. Both Shan State Army and Thai army sources nearby agreed that they counted 11 flashes coming out from the Burma Army's Mae Maw base in possession of Mongpiang-based Infantry Battalion 43, about 1 mile southwest of Paker. "But we heard only 8 explosions," remarked a Shan officer from his Loi Kawwan base. "3 of it must have gone faulty."

At 10:40, 4 trucks with 4-wheel drives were seen coming to the remains of the village. It was later reported that they were militia fighters from Nampong, northeast of Paker, who afterwards met with Burma Army officers. Nothing however was reported how the meeting went.

On the following day, the monthly Township-level Border Committee (TBC) was held in Tachilek, where the Thai side reportedly inquired after the previous day's shootings. To which the Burmese side replied there was an attack mounted on the said village by Shan rebels.

Villagers who had fled to the border from the scene however maintained the attackers were the Burma Army and not the SSA. Altogether there were 5 households that had arrived at Piangfah Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) village, located opposite Mae Fah Luang district near the SSA's Loi Kawwan.

The arrivals nevertheless were unable to explain the reason for the Army's sudden outburst. "But this is the time of the year when we Akhas visit neighboring villages to serenade", said a youth. "I don't know if it had rubbed the Burmese soldiers the wrong way."

Paker militia force is part of the larger one at Nampong, led by Col Yishay a.k.a Chaiwat Pornsakulpaisarn, who is wanted by Thailand on drug charges.