The Burmese Army has launched the anticipated military onslaught on the United Wa State Army’s (UWSA), in its 171st Military Region along the Thai-Burma border in southern Shan State.
The first attack came on April 23 evening and lasted about 15 minutes. The second attack was for about 10 minutes at 10 am on April 24.
Both the attacks were in Monghsat Township, Southeastern Shan State, opposite Thailand’s Mae Ai district, said a Wa leader on condition of anonymity.
UWSA resisted the Burmese Army and fought back. “They fired at us first, and we retaliated because we had to defend ourselves,” said a Wa officer.
However a Wa leader said that there was no casualty on their side.
Casualties on the Burmese Army side, if any, were not known.
The Burmese Army made out that they were unaware of the identity of the troops that they had attacked. “The fighting stopped when we spoke out in Wa language,” a Wa officer said.
The Burmese Army officers came to apologize to the UWSA saying that they attacked the wrong group. They thought it was the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’.
But the Wa leader said, it is unacceptable that the Burmese Army was unaware of the troops that they had attacked.
“It is a load of nonsense their saying it was a wrong attack. Their intention was to fire directly at us. And they also knew that our troops have been spreading out and moving around these areas for more than 10 years,” he added.
Wa believes that the Burmese attack was linked to the Border Guard Force (BGF) programme for which the deadline was April 22, where the UWSA did not respond except submit its latest 8-point counterproposals to Naypitaw on April 3. This was rejected by the junta.
Given the mounting tension over the Naypitaw’s BGF issue, war between the ceasefire groups and the Burmese Army can break out anytime, said a Wa leader.
The Southern UWSA military base also known as the 171st Military Region stretches along the Mongton and Tachilek townships in southern Shan State, opposite Maehongson, Chiangmai and Chiangrai in Thailand.
