No.19 - 03/2006
23 March 2006

War

All eyes on new division on the border

Both Shan and Thai military have been keeping a lookout for the first elements of the Sagaing-based Light Infantry Division 33 that arrived last Thursday (16 March) on Thailand's northern border.

Six military vehicles some 200 troops turned up in the town of Monghsat, opposite Chiangmai's Mae Ai, last week. It had crossed the Salween at Takaw and passed through Mongpiang before reaching Monghsat. About 4 of the trucks were seen in Mongton, 45 miles to the southwest and 53 miles north of  Chiangmai's Chiangdao border the following day. They reportedly spent some time at the Infantry Battalion command post before returning to Monghsat. "The 65th has been relocated in Nakawngmu (24 miles south on the road to the Thai border)," said a Thai military source. "It may mean at least some of the LID 33 units are taking over the command post."

There has been no further reports on the division's movements, although sources confirm it is still in Monghsat.

One of the three tactical commands of the division (a Burmese division has 10 battalions) had taken part in the Battle of Pang Maisoong, opposite Chiangmai's Wiang Haeng district, 21 May  21 June 2002, that almost brought the two countries on the brink of war. The joint junta-Wa alliance had finally dislodged the outgunned and outnumbered Shan State Army fighters, but not before losing hundreds of their men, among them Col Tint Lwin of LID 33.

The division's recent arrival on the border away from its home base has placed all watchers on the alert.

Meanwhile, another division-size Military Operations Command #5 that had been in Southern Shan State since last August to deal with the SSA units under the command of Col Moengzuen was ordered back in February to its base in Taunggup, Arakan state. The job to tackle the rebels was taken over by another Military Operations Command, the Mongnawng-based MOC #2.

According to sources from the north, the Burma Army forces in Shan State are not only recipients of back-up forces from other regional commands. One of its main units, the Hsenwi-based MOC#16, had been ordered since the end of February to take part in the campaign against the Karen National Union in Toungoo area, 69 miles south of the new capital Pyinmana.