All noises, no action on Wa front

No.18 - 7/2007
31 July 2007
War
 
All noises, no action on Wa front
 
The United Wa State Army (UWSA) units on the Thai-Burma have been placed on high alert since 17 July, when they were reportedly ordered by the Burma Army to withdraw from their mountain bases, but the Burma Army has on the whole been quiet in contrast, according to Shan and Thai sources.
 
"No sign of impending offensive on the Wa positions is seen," said a senior security officer. "Maybe the whole purpose of the exercise by the Burmese (Army) is only to sound out the Wa."
 

_{Lt-Col Gawnzeun}

If  the main object was to find out what the Wa would do under pressure, the Burma Army certainly was not disappointed. The UWSA had flatly refused to knuckle under:

• In Mongton township, opposite Chiangmai, the training of Wa officers to handle heavy weapons near Mongjawd is going full blast. "We keep hearing explosions each day coming from the direction of their training school," said a Shan trader who arrived on the border two days ago.
• Heavy weapons previously facing the Loi Gawwan base of the Shan State Army (SSA) South, opposite Chiangmai, have also changed directions.

"In the past, all their 11 fire bases were placing their mortars and machine guns against us," said Lt-Col Gawnzeun, Commander of the Shan base. "Now, all of them are facing in the opposite direction."
 
The Burma Army units, on the contrary, are not on the move as expected. "Apart from the visit made by Lt-Gen Kyaw Win (who oversees military operations in Shan and Kayah states) last week, there is as yet nothing to indicate that the Burma Army will be moving against the Wa."
 
In spite of that, both Shan and Thai watchers say they are maintaining their vigil, as the whole of Burma has been placed under a state of emergency since 26 July.