People who have been displaced by the war between the Burma Army and Shan State Army (SSA) say they are not yet ready to leave their ramshackle huts along both sides of the border for new settlements to be established jointly by the SSA and Naypyitaw authorities.
“The ceasefire (signed between the two) still remains fragile,” said a refugee at Kungjaw camp, set up in Wiang Haeng, 160 km northwest of Chiangmai, in 2002, in the wake of fierce fighting between the two sides. “We keep hearing news about the clashes between them. We don’t want to leave here today only to return tomorrow.”
The camp has 620 refugees, according to her.
The SSA had signed a ceasefire agreement on 2 December 2011. Since then, at least 13 clashes have taken place between the two sides, the last two the day before yesterday, 11 March. “As far as the Burma Army is concerned,” said an SSA officer who asked anonymity,” the only demilitarized zone is the Homong-Monghta area (opposite Maehongson and Chiangmai). Elsewhere, we are still fair game, to be shot on sight.”
Maj Lao Hseng, spokesperson for the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), the SSA’s political arm, agrees. “Three things are clear: First, demarcation between the two sides still needs to be negotiated. Second, the Burma Army doesn’t follow orders from the government and third, as such, the SSA should always be ready to defend itself and the people.”
According to U Aung Min, Naypyitaw’s chief negotiator, the resettlement of the displaced people should be completed before the rainy season. “It is not possible,” said an aid worker working with the SSA. “According to the SSA, its plan is to establish the military bases first. It will then conduct a survey for suitable resettlement sites. The move to the sites can take place only afterwards. And since these steps can be taken only in coordination with the Burma Army, it will certainly take some time, maybe after the rains.”
There are some 8,000 displaced people on both sides of the border:
| Kawng Moongmerng (opposite Maehongson) | 250 |
| Loi Taileng (opposite Pang Mapha) | 2,300 |
| Loi Lam (opposite Wiang Haeng) | 400 |
| Loi Hsarm Hsip (opposite Fang) | 1,500 |
| Loi Gawwan (opposite Mae Fa Luang) | 2,900 |
| Kungjaw (Wiang Haeng) | 620 |
| Total | 7,970 |
Apart from them, there are some 145,600 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in 13 townships in Shan State South and East: Mawkmai, Mongkeung, Laikha, Loilem, Namzang, Kunhing, Mongpan, Kehsi, Langkher, Mongnai, Monghsu, Monghsat and Mongton, according to Thai-Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) June 2011 report.
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