Relations between the Burmese Army, Mueng Lar groups and the United Wa State Army are increasingly becoming strained, after the Wa army did not allow carrying of artillery weapons to Pang Sang on January 19, while Director of Military Affairs Security (MAS), Lieutenant General Ye Myint toured Pang Sang. According to a Sino-Burmese news source, both sides have been practicing further military actions as preparation, and tightening security.

A trader from Kengtung, aged 40, said, "according to the Military Tactical Commander and MAS officials, they have decreased touring the Mueng Lar area. Relations between them are becoming quite strained. The situation is worse in the northern Wa region."

In the northern Wa region, security checking has been tightened at gates for ordinary Burmese villagers. In the past, they were only 4-5 soldiers guarding the gate. Now there are 20-30 soldiers, taking sentry duty at the gate, a vehicle driver from Kung Lon-Hopan said.

There has been tightening of security within and in nearby areas of Brigade 369 of NDAA (National Democracy Alliance Army) of the Mueng Lar group, Brigade 468 of UWSA Pang Sang and Burmese Army controlled areas since mid January. Patrolling at night has also been started in these areas.

A Kengtung driver, middle aged, said, "The situation seems to be quiet between the Burmese army and a ceasefire Mueng Lar group. But it has been learnt that they are secretly doing military preparation. The ceasefire group issued AK-47s and new M-20 pistols to their militia last month. At the same time, it has been seen that the Burma Army has strengthened its army units in Maw Hpha and Meung Hket Township."

A lieutenant rank UWSA officer said since the Burmese junta has been preparing for the 2010 elections; it has put pressure on ceasefire groups to disarm and exist under the junta's Defence Ministry.