A thousand bags of rice which have been blocked by the Burmese military for 2 years were reportedly returned to the Untied Wa State Army (UWSA), after a new ceasefire agreement was reached between the two sides early in the month, according to sources from the UWSA.
The rice blockade was said to have been lifted a few days ago, but other goods are not seen coming yet, said a Wa officer who asked not to be named.
“They should have been returned a long time ago,” he said.
But some said they [the rice bags] were a part of support given by the new government as it was done since 1989 until 2009. At that time, the UWSA reportedly received four thousands bags of rice, 300 cans of petrol oil and an unspecified amount of money per year.
But following the rejection by the UWSA to the Border Guard Force (BGF) program spelled out in April 2009, the Burmese military regime had blocked all supplies not only the rice but also other goods entering into areas of the Untied Wa State Army (UWSA) control.
Two years after, the two finally had come to make a new 4-point ceasefire agreement on 6 September: No hostilities between the two sides, to reopen liaison offices on both sides; to inform each other in advance if one side is entering the other side’s territory carrying arms and to form a joint coordination committee for regional development as soon as possible.
Its ally National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) signed a similar agreement in Kengtung on the next day.
The group [UWSA] and government’s negotiators are scheduled to meet again on 1 October, in Shan State North’s Lashio, headquarters of the North Eastern Region Command (NERC). The Wa delegation left its headquarters Panghsang on Thursday. There has been no information from its ally NDAA yet.
“They are expected to talk about regional development and the returning of the government’s personnel,” said one of the Wa top officer.
The Wa side has 10 members led by Xiao Minliang, vice chairman of UWSA, which includes Bao Youliang, brother of UWSA’s Chairman Bao Youxiang and Zhao Guo-ang, who is in charge of the UWSP’s external relations; Ai Long, deputy commander of the UWSA, Li Julie aka U Aung Myint, spokesperson and commanders of the three brigades facing the Burma Army forces: Bao Ai Roong, 318th Brigade, Northern sector, Bao Samrai, 618th Brigade, Western sector and Hsai Tao, 418th Brigade, Southern sector.
The government side is expected to have Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) Secretary Aung Thaung and House Peacekeeping Committee Chairman Thein Zaw and Khun Htun Lu, Chairman of Wa Democratic Party (WDP), who doubles as Chairman of the newly formed Wa Special Administrative Division.
