The Panghsang-based United Wa State Army (UWSA) and Mongla-based National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS) have each denied reports that they have struck a deal with Burma’s ruling military junta on the transformation to the Burmese Army-controlled Border Guard Forces (BGFs).
“They are totally groundless and designed to discourage other groups that are looking up to the Wa for anchorage,” said an official close to the Wa leadership.
The Mongla contact meanwhile just said, “This is typical psychological warfare.”
SHAN however received an independent report of the UWSA’s 171st Military Region, based along the Thai-Burma border of its repeated efforts to reach a compromise with the Kengtung-based Triangle Region Command. “The negotiators returned last week after the Burmese Army refused to make any concessions on its BGF proposal,” said a source close to the 171st without elaborating.
Naypyitaw also through Thailand offered negotiations for truce with the non-ceasefire Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’ of Col Yawdserk which is being viewed by observers, Thai and Shan alike, as an attempt to prevent any alliance between the UWSA and SSA.
On the other hand, a Thai military source has reported being informed by his Burmese counterpart that the Burmese Army has no plans to start a war with the UWSA as apprehended by many. “Why should we do that,” a junta commander stationed opposite Chiangmai was quoted as saying, “when it will only serve to strengthen Yawdserk and his band?”
Meanwhile, reports of continued military buildup by the Burmese Army along the northern Wa’s southern border in Mongpiang and Mongkhark townships are being received. Negotiations other than those initiated by the UWSA’s 171st Military Region appear to have stopped for the time being if not permanently.
Even talks between Burmese and Chinese militaries that used to take place in Panghsang have been cancelled most recently, according to the Wa source. “A few days earlier, we were informed by the Chinese military authorities that a new round of talks was going to take place in Panghsang on Monday (28 September),” he recalled. “But when Monday came we found that the Burmese commander in Tangyan (west of Panghsang and across the Salween) had despatched three trucks to pick up the nine-member Chinese delegation and drive them to Tangyan, where the talks are to be held.”
The source said it had taken many of the Wa leaders by surprise “because we had come to take the meetings between Burmese and Chinese officials in Panghsang for granted.”
At the same time, the general view among both Wa and Mongla is that no attacks will be forthcoming at least until after the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and 3 October (End of Buddhist Lent).
“It is not that we are just being buffalo-headed (meaning pigheaded),” explained the Wa source. “Not that we are never going to transform into BGFs or surrender. But we need to be assured of our basic political right to self-rule.”
He said the junta-drawn constitution does not even list Self Administration in its List of Legislation of Self-Administrated Division or Area. “What’s the point of calling them Self-Administered Division or Area?” he asked rhetorically.
According to the constitution, self administered divisions and areas have the power to legislate in the following matters: Urban and Rural Projects, Construction and Maintenance of Roads and Bridges, Public Health, Development Affairs, Prevention of Fire Hazard, Maintenance of Pasture, Conservation and Preservation of Forest, Preservation of Natural Environment in Accord with Law Promulgated by the Union, Water and Electricity Matters in Towns and Village and Market Matters of Towns and Villages.
