One of the Burma Army’s nine new railways will be reportedly built to reach the newly developed sub-township of Shan State East’s Mongton, where most of the area is under control of anti-junta Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’ and the United Wa State Army (UWSA).

According to local sources, the new sub-township, Monghta will be a junction for two townships of Shan State South’s Mongpan and Mongton which are included in Namzang-Kengtung railway project.

Monghta, located west of Mongton, 44 kilometers north of Chiangmai's Wiang Haeng district serves as a strategic location, as it is situated between two brigades of United Wa State Army (UWSA) and on the gateway to SSA South. It is believed to be one of the military junta’s plans to block the route of the UWSA and the SSA fighters.

Thousands of villagers including civil servants in Mongton township have been ordered to participate in its opening ceremony which is to take place next month, a local villager in Mongton said.

Currently, two construction companies have already started measuring the length of the road between Mongpan and Ta Hsoppart on the Salween. Reportedly, a temporary bridge will also be made at Ta Hsoppart crossing between Mongpan and Mongton.

“They have already finished 20 miles of the road construction,” said a driver whose trucks runs between Mongpan-Mongton.

The railway will pass through Mawkmai- Langkhurh, Mongpan, Mongton and Monghsat before reaching Kengtung.

A border watcher on the Thai-Burma border commented, “When the projects are completed, it will be increasingly difficult for rebels to move around without being harassed by the Burma Army.

The United Wa State Army (UWSA), National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) and the non-ceasefire Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’ are the main armed groups active in Shan State East.