No.17 - 04/2006
27 April 2006

War

Fighting resumes

Shan State Army positions held since the clash on 21 April were stormed by joint Burma Army-Wa-militia troops this morning, according to Shan and Thai sources on the border.

The assault followed mortar shellings by the Army at 10:15 (Bangkok time). According to Lt-Col Gawnzuen, SSA commander at Loi Kawwan, between Burma's Monghsat township and Thailand's Chiangrai province, the attacking force is composed of 250 Wa, 200 militia and 100 Burma Army men, while the number of the defenders at present are less than 200, according to a Thai source.

The fight began when the SSA patrol, lying in ambush for what it maintains a heroin convoy on 21 April, ran across a joint Burma Army-militia column near Maejok, a village in Mongkarn tract, Monghsat township, across the border from Hmong Pat Lang village, Therdthai tract, Mae Faluang district. No drugs were captured by the SSA fighters however although they found 4 dead militiamen at the killing ground.

The following is the chronology of events:
21 April
The SSA moves to positions south of the killing ground and the Burma Army to the north as darkness falls.

22 April
Jalaw Bo, a deputy of Wei Hsuehkang, arrives at Maejok to confer with Burmese authorities. He later dispatches elements from the United Wa State Army's 814th and 101st battalions.

23 - 26 April
Sporadic fighting as each side tries to probe the other

26 April
Junta authorities hold drug bonfire in Kengtung, 102 miles north of Maesai

27 April
Fierce fighting resumes as of 10:15