No.12 - 04/2006
22 April 2006

War

First border clash in years

A Shan State Army 'South' unit, on a mission to head off a drug consignment into Thailand, yesterday bumped into a 120-strong joint patrol of the militia-Burma Army, reported Shan and Thai security sources.

The 3-hour fight, 16:00 19:00, took place near Maejok, the scene of fierce fighting 4 years earlier, between eastern Shan State's Monghsat township and Hua Mae Kham, Mae Fa Luang district, Chiangrai Province. On the Shan side was Maj.Liengzuen with an unspecified number of his crack 678th Special Force. On the Burma Army side were Light Infantry Battalions 311 (Mongyawng-based) and 526 (Tachilek-based) as well as some 20-strong Punako militia force.

The Burmese column withdrew as darkness set in around 19:00, leaving 4 dead. "The Burmese were using a new type of mortar, said to be manufactured in Israel," said Lt-Col Gawnzuen, commander of the SSA's Kengtung Front. "Troops from the field report that each of its shells makes a big crater at least 2 meters wide."

Some 4-5 shells had fallen inside Thai territory though no damages or civilian casualties have been reported.

The SSA says local Burmese commanders and drug producers are in collusion:

• On 22 April 2001, SSA raiders at Pakhee, opposite Fang district, Chiangmai Province, claimed to have seized 170,000 yaba pills from the fleeing Burmese commander
• On 8 February 2002, another raiding party seized 50,000 yaba pills at Maejok outpost commanded by Maj Tin Lin of Kengtung-based Infantry Battalion 244.

According to the SSA, the Punako militia, led by Ja Ngoi, was to transfer a consignment of heroin into Thailand yesterday. The Shans however were unable to say whether the Burmese column was escorting the drug shipment.

Thai border watchers say they are anxiously waiting to see how the Burma Army will to react to the latest engagement on the border with the SSA.

The two countries have already experienced three military confrontations (2 in 2001 and 1 in 2002) each time following clashes between the SSA and the Burma Army.

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