Burma Army reported attacked by ceasefire Shan Army
Apr 30th, 2010
Burma Army reported attacked by ceasefire Shan Army
A Burma Army unit was reportedly attacked by an unknown group yesterday 29 April, killing one and wounding one while it was on the way to reinforce troops in Shan State North’s Tangyan Township, west of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) controlled territory, according to sources from the Sino-Burma border.
The incident took place at 12:30 between Hoya village tract and Loi Ngeun (Silver Mountain), that forms the northern border of the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’’s Brigade No.1 controlled areas and south of the junta-back Manpang militia force controlled areas. The unit was identified as Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) # 326 based in Tangyan.
The SSA liaison officer in Lashio was summoned to meet the commander of the Northeastern Region Command on that day as soon as the incident was reported. The officer was told by the commander to inform his group to take responsibility for the incident. If the group refused to, it would face a military operation.
“It is obvious that they blame us because we have yet to accept its program as its wants,” said a senior officer from the First Brigade. “But the First Brigade’s policy doesn’t allow fighters to shoot first unless they are attacked.”
According to him, the incident was the LIB# 326’s own doing. “We learned that the M79 rocket launcher was accidentally fired by a soldier. The Burma Army commander was seizing this opportunity to make war on us.”
The SSA-N has 3 brigades (1, 3, 7), one border force and one HQ Security Force commanded by Maj-Gen Loimao. Brigade No. 3 and 7 were said to have submitted lists of their men and weapons to form the junta run home guard force. The First however has remained silent to the program up to this day.
A senior officer from the anti-Naypyitaw Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’ commented that the Brigade No. 1 is in a dilemma. “For one thing, the brigade is still emotionally attached to its comrades in the other units. For another, it is not sure it could really rely on its allies. It is also afraid that joining the SSA South will push it into a premature war with the Burma Army.”
Nevertheless, the SSA North said it has yet to agree to transform itself to become home guards. It had only submitted lists of their men who agreed to become members of a home guard force to be formed under the Burma Army’s supervision.
The deadline for ceasefire groups to become militias expired on 28 April.
Ceasefire Shan Army denies group breakup
The Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’ yesterday rejected reports that the group has broken up into opposing factions.
According to sources from the group who wished to remain anonymous, its leaders had merely submitted a list of their men who agreed to become members of home guard force as demanded by the military junta.
Besides, its HQ also remains the same as it was, not a Home Guard base yet. “We will take this opportunity to negotiate on the setting up of the home guard force at a later date,” he said.
Anyhow sources from the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) commented that they had no idea why the SSA had done so without first informing them.
A senior commander from the Shan State Army (South) is also of the opinion that the group “is playing with fire.” As for Sao Yawdserk, the SSA South’s leader, he had declined to comment, saying, “I’m following the events closely.”
An SSA North officer who asked not to be named said the total number of men in the lists submitted was just around 700 (Brigade No.3 and Hsengkeow HQ, 300 and Brigade No.7, 400). But the First Brigade still refuses to allow the Burma Army to visit the camp and did not agree with its headquarters to transform into junta run home guard force.
The SSA-N has 3 brigades (1, 3, 7), one China border force and one HQ Security Force. The 1st Brigade is based in Wanhai, Kehsi township, Shan State South, under the command of Maj-Gen Parngfa; Brigade No.3 in Mongkhurh, Mongyai township, Shan State North, under the effective command of Maj-Gen Loimao; Brigade No.7 in Kali, Hsipaw township, Shan State North, led by Maj-Gen Gaifa.
People in the 1st brigade area have reportedly been moving out to other areas since 25 April. “Some fled to Wa areas,” said a local resident of Wanhai.
The Burma Army was also reported to have kept reinforcing more forces, supplies and weapons to its bases on the Salween facing the United Wa State Army (UWSA). Its Light Infantry Division (LID) #33 was reported to have already taken positions in Tangyan Township, west of the UWSA’s 418th Brigade.
“Chinese NGO workers are also leaving Panghsang now except for local Wa residents and about 200 Burmese workers,” said a long time resident of the Wa capital.
According to him, local residents in Wa State have been urged not to leave the areas but to face the crisis together.
But hundreds of people from its southern 171st Military Region based along the Thai-Burma border are reportedly fleeing to Thailand everyday even though there are no reports of significant movements by the Burma Army.
Latest unconfirmed report says a Burma Army patrol in Mongyai Township in Shan State North was ambushed by an unknown number of SSA North troops this morning wounding 1.