Latest reports say that the ruling Burmese military junta had told the United Wa State Army (UWSA) during a meeting in Panghsang on 22 June, that its Border Guard Force (BGF) programme will be discussed after the new government is formed, according to sources close to the Wa leadership.

The two sides were reported to have met on 22 June, at the Wa capital Panghsang. The junta side was led by Brig-Gen Win Thein, Deputy Commander of Northeastern Region Command and Tangyan Area Commander Colonel Khaing Zaw together with 40 other members.  The Wa side was led by Xiao Minliang, Vice Chairman of UWSA, Deputy Secretary Bao Youri, Bao Youliang, Zhao Guo-ang, Zhao Wenguang and Li Julie aka U Aung Myint.

The junta reportedly wanted to meet Wa supreme leader Bao Youxiang. But according to Wa authorities, he was up in Kunma, north of Panghsang.

The meeting, which was mainly about the Border Guard Force programme, lasted for about an hour. Before meeting the group, the Burmese delegation had met Chinese officials on 20 June, in Meng Lien (Monglem), opposite Panghsang.

Brig-Gen Win Thein did not set any new deadline concerning the BGF programme. “He said it will be up to the new government,” a source quoted him as saying.

The Wa leaders, on the other hand, said they had nothing new to report at the meeting.

This was the second meeting between the junta and Wa after Naypyitaw’s 28 April deadline. The first was in May.

Some officers from the Triangle Region Command are also expected to be meeting with National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) known as Mongla today.

The UWSA, MNDAA, Kachin Independent Army (KIA) and the bulk of the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’, are the groups that still refuse to transform themselves into the Burmese Army controlled Border Guard Force.