The United Wa State Army (UWSA) has reportedly ordered all of its frontline units along the Salween that serves as a shared boundary with its ally the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North,’ which has been fighting with the Burma Army for a week, on an 24 hour alert, according to sources from the UWSA.

“We have alerted all our troops to be ready to defend ourselves even though we don’t want to fight. But the fight won’t be started by our side,” said a high officer who requested not to be named.

At present, the military junta has deployed more troops in areas along the Salween to cut off possible links between the two. The SSA is active on the west of the Salween while the UWSA is in the east.

The SSA is a signatory together with the UWSA, National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) and Kachin Independence Army (KIA) which had reached an agreement in April 2010 to help each other whenever one of them is attacked.

The SSA has been fighting against the attacking Burma Army since last Sunday 13 March, up to date. The latest fighting between the two reportedly took place in Kehsi township twice.

According to an SSA officer, the Burma Army has suffered more than 130 casualties, at least 30 killed and 100 wounded, while the SSA has had 4 killed and 8 wounded.

However, the UWSA, the strongest group, said it could not help in the fighting although they are allies. “The reason is because we are still expecting to talk with the military junta. We therefore decided not to get involved in their fighting and to only keep an eye on the Burma army movement’s and the new government’s decision,” said the Wa officer.

“Nevertheless, war is like fire, it can spread out. We therefore have to be prepared, so we can defend ourselves when attacked.”

Currently, two groups of the alliance: the SSA and the KIA have been named by the military junta as “insurgent groups.”

The junta run newspaper New Light of Myanmar reported on Sunday, 20 March that “the insurgent group, the SSA Wanhing (Wanhai) was carrying out terrorist acts and destructions while the government is striving for ensuring better transport across the nation,” saying the SSA was destroying roads and bridges in Monghsu and Mongyai townships.

Due to the offensive, dozens of civilians were reportedly killed and injured by the junta’s heavy weapons while hundreds of people had to flee to other areas for their safety.