The United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS), better known as the Mongla group, which continue to reject the junta’s demand to transform into the Burmese Army controlled Border Guard Force (BGF), are said to be planning to visit some junta commanders very soon, according to reliable sources close to the groups’ leadership.
A Wa source confirmed that the visit aims to restore peace between the Burmese Army and the Wa, because both sides have not been in touch since the Wa rejected the junta’s demand to convert to the BGF in June.
“If both remain intransigent, peace between them that has lasted 20 years will be in vain,” he quoted a Wa leader as saying.
Since the Wa’s rejection of the Burmese Army’s proposal in June, tension between the two sides has mounted and both have reinforced troops, weapons and supplies to border areas.
Similarly, Mongla, which is also sending its delegation to Kengtung soon, says for peace to last, each side must be willing to meet half way.
However, dates of the visit are so far unavailable.
The UWSA and the Mongla are the two remaining members of the Peace and Democracy Front (PDF) that have opposed the junta’s demand so far. One of their allies the New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K) had agreed to transform to Border Guard Forces (BGFs) on 8 June while another ally the Kokang group aka the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) broke up following the attack by the Burmese Army in August.
The PDF was formed on 30 November 1989 by four former Communist Party of Burma (CPB) armed forces: the Kokang National Democratic Alliance Army, later Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), also known as the Chinese Kokang, the New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K), the National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS) and the United Wa State Army (UWSA).
Wa is yet to decide on the BGF proposal. “We will ask the Burmese leaders to give us more time until a new government has been formed.”
Tension between the Burmese Army and the ceasefire groups have been growing as the SPDC attempts to pressure all the ceasefire groups to transform into Border Guard Forces or surrender their arms and contest in the forthcoming general elections as political parties.
Border analysts say the thaw in the current relationship between the Wa, Mongla and the Burmese Army may be because of China’s mediation.
On October 19, Secretary-1 Gen Tin Aung Myint Oo paid a visit to China and met Deputy Prime Minister Li Keqiang. The minister said that both countries must safeguard stability along the border.
The regime’s attack on the Kokang in northern Shan State in August has driven over 37,000 refugees into Chinese area and has also worsened the situation.
Meanwhile, China’s Premier Wen Jiabao reiterated to his Burmese counterpart Gen Thein Sein that “China sincerely hopes for Myanmar's political stability, economic development and national reconciliation” on Saturday during the ASEAN-China Summit, in Cha-am, Thailand.
