Junta readies itself for referendum, for war

Brand new 58 six-wheelers were seen coming from Taunggyi, the Shan State capital, on their way to Kengtung, eastern Shan State capital, this morning by locals in Kunhing, 140 miles east of Taunggyi. (Kengtung, 281 miles east of Taunggyi, is 102 miles north of the Maesai border).
 
“We didn’t see what’s inside,” said Shan Herald’s main source in the area said. “But outside ‘No smoking’ is written in big characters.” To which a senior border watcher commented: This indicates presence of explosives in the trucks.
 
The same source had reported the passage of 4 armored vehicles and 10 six-wheel trucks carrying 120 mm mortars to Kengtung on 27 March. The armored vehicles appeared to be replacements for the 10 armored vehicles that have been in station in Tachilek since the 2002 border confrontation between Thailand and Burma, remarked another border watcher. A separate report says a Burma Army area commander Col Tin Maung Swe was seen at Takaw, the bridge that connects eastern Shan State with the west, on 30 March to preside over a welcoming ceremony for the returning vehicles.
 
One of the new armored vehicles was later reported to have toppled over a cliff to the ravine below after crossing the Salween. All the 4 occupants were killed.
 
“Despite news of increased tensions between the Wa and the Burma Army, there are not much pointers to suggest an impending campaign against any group in the area,” said the senior border watcher. “The junta’s main focus seems to be the successful conduct of the May referendum.”
 
The three main armed groups in eastern Shan State are the United Wa State Army (UWSA), National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern State State (NDAA-ESS) and the Shan State Army (SSA) South. The former two have ceasefire agreements with Burma’s ruling military council while the latter has not.