Senior Burmese military junta officers have been inspecting bases in areas facing the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’ forces and reinforcing troops and weapons as of this week.
The Northeastern Region Command Commander, Maj-Gen Aung Than Htut, on May 11, reportedly inspected battalions in Mongkao, Shan State North’s Tangyan township, facing the SSA ‘North’s Brigade No.1, the faction that is refusing to convert to the junta controlled home guard force.
“Over 50 militiamen of Mongkao came to welcome them [commander and his men] at Tangyan,” a source said.
Tangyan is a town located west of the Wa headquarters Panghsang. The next day, the commander crossed the Salween to inspect his strongest bases, Loi Panglong, northwest of Panghsang, and Manghseng, in the west.
The Burmese Army troops are taking positions at all bases facing the Wa capital Panghsang, its 171st southern Military Region on the Thai-Burma border and the SSA ‘North’.
On May 10, about 40 military trucks were reported passing through Shan State South’s Loilem and Namzang townships and continued to Kunhing, Takaw and Langkhurh the next day, carrying cable and heavy weapons, local sources from Namzang said.
Another unconfirmed source said the trucks numbered over 80, some 40 went to Shan State East’s Kengtung and the rest were going to Langkhurh, a town across the Salween, opposite northern Thailand.
On May 6, about 10 military trucks from three battalions based in Tachilek were also reportedly sent to the Infantry Battalion (IB) # 65 command post in Nakawngmu, Mongton township, opposite Thailand’ Chiangmai, said a villager in Nakawngmu.
Two more units from two Light Infantry Divisions (LID): Pegu based LID#77 and Meiktila based #99, will also be arriving within this week, a Burmese Army soldier told villagers in Nakawngmu.
Infantry battalions (IB) based in Mongton: IB# 277, 133, 225, 65 and Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) #519 have also been ordered to build more bunkers and trenches in their bases.
Meanwhile, reports of the SSA First Brigade’s preparation for defence were also available. The group has been rebuilding bunkers, trenches and adding forces. All its fighters in the Monghsu gemland were also told to leave the town since the first week of the month, a source in Monghsu said.
