Naypyitaw’s outright rejection of Mongla’s wish to become a junta-proposed Border Guard Force (BGF) without the Burmese Army officers  lording over it, notwithstanding, its immediate ally the United Wa State Army (UWSA) has adopted an identical position, a source close to the leadership said.

The decision was taken at an ad hoc meeting on November 7, at the Wa capital Panghsang to discuss preparations for the upcoming parleys with Naypyitaw’s chief negotiator Lt-Gen Ye Myint.

The date and venue of the meeting are yet to be fixed.

The source hinted that the reason for Panghsang’s change in stance, from “No to BGF” to “Yes but without junta ministrations” was because of China.

“It says it doesn’t want a war on its doorsteps and both sides need to soften their stands,” he said. “And that it has also conveyed the same message to the Burmese leadership.”

The Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’, Panghsang’s western neighbour, according to confirmed reports, has also adopted the same policy. “It has even instructed each subordinate command to submit a list of those who wished to become home guards,” said an SSA source on the Sino-Burma border. “But to date (Saturday) no one has come forward to put down his name to it.”

Panghsang’s southern neighbour, Mongla, officially the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), last met Ye Myint in Kengtung on October 28. Its insistence on transforming to a BGF without Burmese Army officers was flatly turned down by him.