The United Wa State Army (UWSA) submitted a new 8-point counterproposal to Naypyitaw again on 1 April, when its delegation and Naypyitaw’s chief negotiator Lt- Gen Ye Myint met in Tangyan, west of Wa’s capital town Panghsang over the junta’s Border Guard Force (BGF) programme, said informed sources on the Sino-Burma border.
The proposal was written because their previous 9-point proposal (submitted to Naypyitaw on 14 November) was rejected. However, a copy of it was still attached to the new one despite Naypyitaw’s rejection. The 8-point proposal said:
• To keep Mongpawk and Mongphen under Wa territory as it is, and not in Mongyang township (Naypyitaw has placed Mongpawk-Mongphen inside Mongyang township, under Burmese Army control)
• Under Naypyitaw’s BGF plan, to allow the group to have 10 battalions in their northern region along the Sino-Burma border and to place them under the Northeastern Region Command. One junta officer would be allowed to run each Wa battalion. In addition, to discharge only members who are over 60 (Naypyitaw wants to discharge members over 50). To keep military trainings in its controlled territory: Mongpawk, Panghsang and Mongmai
• To take responsibility for pensions compensations. (According to the Wa’s statistics, there were over 200 disabled, who were injured in the joint-operation with the Burmese Army against the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’ in 2005 and the number of orphans was over 800)
• To retain its police and administrative personnel
• To issue identity cards for all the Wa people and to issue licenses for their vehicles as well
• Its southern military region along the Thai-Burma border should also have 10 battalions and to place it under Triangle Region Command. Military trainings should also be conducted in areas under its control: Wanhong and Hwe Aw bases
• Not to relocate any Wa people back to their place of origin: Panghsang, because they have already invested four billion Kyat in agriculture and rubber fields. In addition to issue official documents for the lands used by them
• To maintain businesses, especially mining operations, as it is
“Because there are some companies in our region that are digging metal,” one of the Wa officers was said to have told the junta authorities.
“It is not yet known how Naypyitaw is going to react to the counterproposal. They [junta] haven’t told anything to us yet,” a source, who asked not to be named told SHAN.
Meanwhile, the military junta in southern Shan State has put in place more security along bases facing the UWSA 171’st Military Region since 27 March, the Armed Forces Day.
Military Affairs Security (MAS) chief Lt-Gen Ye Myint had already held meetings with ethnic ceasefire groups; the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) known as Mongla group on 29 March in Kengtung and Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’ on 2 April in Lashio.
All the said ceasefire groups have been given a 28 April deadline to accept the Burmese Army’s demand, and to submit their lists of strength and weapons by 22 April. If not they would all be declared illegal organizations.
The Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’ is reportedly holding a meeting today at each brigade command and is scheduled to meet together at the main base Hsengkeow, in Hsipaw township, Shan State North on 9 April for a final decision.
The SSA ‘North’ comprises three brigades, 1st Brigade in Wanhai in Kehsi township, 3rd brigade in Hsipaw township, 7th brigade in Shan State South’s Kunhing Township.
