[Loilang map] The Myanmar-Yodaya Relations (Basic Education High School level), the school textbook that came out 6 months after a major armed confrontation broke out in February 2001, and became a compulsory subject in all schools, claimed Burma Army units were posted there until 1988,when countrywide uprisings calling for democracy necessitated their presence in urban areas. It was then occupied by Mong Tai Army (MTA) led by Khun Sa until 1996, the year he surrendered. The area has been under Yodaya (a derogatory name for Thailand) forces since then, according to the book

Former MTA documents and living sources however say otherwise:

• On 21 January 1982, Shanland United Army (SUA) commanded by Khun Sa was attacked and driven out of Thai territory by Thai forces
• August, 1982, SUA forces drove out Communist Party of Burma (CPB) forces and captured Loilang (known as Doilang in Thai)
• March, 1985, SUA joined forces with Tai Revolutionary Council / Tai Revolutionary Army (TRC / TRA) to become Shan State Restoration Council / Shan State Army (SSRC / SSA)

Two years later, the Thai army, during a “hot pursuit” campaign against drug trafficking, held talks with the SSA on the fate of Loilang. To make the story short, the SSA agreed to hand over the responsibility for the area’s security to the Thai army, resulting in an 8 point signed agreement. The main point was:

“As it is the SSA that has transferred the outposts to the Special Forces (of the Royal Thai Army), the RTA will see to it that they are returned to the SSA in due time, and not to the Burmese Communist forces or any armed organizations. In the case of these outposts being seized by any other armed groups, these groups will be expelled and the outposts returned to the SSA.”

It was signed by Lt-Col Hsailed Suriya for the SSA and Col (……..) for the Special Forces, on 9 March 1987.

From 1987 to 1996, the SSA (later renamed the MTA) managed to hold the surrounding areas against relentless attacks by the CPB and later by its successor, the United Wa State Army (UWSA). However, on 6 June 1995, a mutiny took place which broke the back of MTA and took the fight out of Khun Sa, who started negotiating with Rangoon for the best terms he could get for an agreement to give up the armed struggle.

The rest is history.

So, to whom does Loilang belong to? To this, both the Burmese and the Thais will come up each with their own versions of border demarcation maps as well as several arguments to back up their claims.

My suggestion is that the interested party does not forget to ask the local people there, some of whom have been there even before 1982. I’m sure all of them will have the best answers even if they may not be acceptable to all.