Wa claims victory

War

Wa claims victory

The Wa have resumed their attack against the Shan State Army this morning contrary to earlier reports that all was quiet and have claimed to have overrun some of the outposts seized earlier by the anti-Rangoon Shans, according to both Wa and Shan sources:

The outposts captured by the Wa overlooked the watercourse that had been in use by its bases prior to their seizure by the SSA in March.

Khurhsen Heng-awn, spokeswoman for the SSA's political arm, Restoration Council of Shan State, acknowledging the loss of the outposts, nevertheless stated that Kawngkha, the principal post that guards the northeastern gateway to the Loi Taileng headquarters is still firmly in the hands of the defenders. Loipook Hsarm-ngarm, another post southeast of Loi Taileng also appears to be under the SSA control.

"Without heavy weapons, the Wa will lose only lose more and more men," an officer from the Burma Army's Mongton-based Infantry Battalion 225 escorting a 4-truck ammunitions convoy to the battlefield was overheard saying yesterday.

According to the SSA liaison officer, the Wa casualties since 12 April, up to 15:00 hours today are 179 dead and 291 wounded. On the SSA side, a Thai newsman observed 14 wounded.

The Wa are using heavy weapons of various caliber, according to the SSA:

• 3 - 120mm mortars

• 3 - 81mm mortars

• 9 - 82mm mortars

• 3 - 75mm recoilless rifles

They are also sending in "reinforcements" to Mongton, according to a local ethnic Chinese businessman "I'm expecting 20 more trucks coming this evening," he told a family friend. "The last convoy had already brought in 4,000 blocks (1 block = 350 gm) of heroin. I know many will not agree with me but this war is certainly good for business."

According to an earlier reports, the Wa have already shipped down at least 1.4 tons of heroin and 14 million pills of methamphetamines to the border on 11 April.