Units of the United Wa State Army (UWSA)’s southern region along the Thai-Burma border has been on the move, especially during night, sources said.
On October 3, four ten-wheel trucks of the Wa force in Mongyawn, Shan State East’s Monghsat Township, opposite Thailand’s Mae Ai district, were reportedly moving to a Wa stronghold, Wanhoong, east of Monghsat. About 50 men were on each truck, said a local source.
“But the trucks disappeared before reaching Wan Hoong,” he said.
The next day, six more trucks reportedly went again to Wanhoong. Two of them dropped some soldiers on the way and the rest went on to Wanhoong, he added.
Since September 18 and 19, the southern Wa has been reinforcing their troops along the road of Hopang-Hoyawd in Mongton township, opposite Chiangmai's Fang district. The number of soldiers deployed along the road was about 400, according to a source close to the Wa leadership.
“Elderly people, children and young soldiers were left at the main bases,” he said.
Similarly, the Burmese Army based in Nam Zarm, east of Monghsat also withdrew its troops to west of the Kok River. Nam Zarm is where the road branches off to the Wa strongholds in Mongyawn.
At the same time, tension along border areas between two sides has also increased, said a source.
“People are questioned and searched by both sides. On the Wa side, people holding Burmese ID cards especially Burmans and Indians are bearing the brunt of the questioning,” he said.
Early this month, Wa authorities in Mongyawn issued a directive urging Burmans and Indians to leave within the month. The Wa will not take any responsibility for them if they continued to stay, according to a resident.
“Only Shans and Chinese are left alone,” she said.
On October 5, the area commander of Pongpakhem sub-township, Mongton Township, opposite Chiangmai, Col Kyaw Thu was reported to have visited Hwe Pakhee (Lahu village) 18 miles (29 km) north of BP1, the border pass between Mongton and Chiangdao, to construct a school and a hydropower plant, said a local villager.
Most junta-backed militia units in Shan State East are Lahu. With regard to the commander’s visit, local people say the military is doing a favour to Lahus so it could use them in the fighting against Wa or Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’.
The Southern Wa area, known as the 171st Military Region, stretches from Mongton Township to Tachilek Township opposite Maehongson, Chiangmai and Chiangrai, Thailand.
