Two of Burma’s ethnic ceasefire groups: the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) better known as the Mongla group, which have refused to transform into Naypyitaw’s Border Guard Force (BGF) are scheduled to meet military officials today, local sources on the Sino-Burma border said.

On 17 August, the junta invited UWSA and NDAA to meet its negotiators Lt-Gen Ye Myint, Chief of Military Affairs Security (MAS) and Maj-Gen Kyaw Phyoe, Commander of Golden Triangle Region Command on 20 August. “But the two have to meet separately,” said an informed source.  

The UWSA including its supreme leader Bao Youxiang was asked to meet Lt-Gen Ye Myint at Tangyan, 83 miles southwest of Shan State North’s capital Lashio and NDAA is to meet Maj-Gen Kyaw Phyoe in Shan State East’s capital Kengtung. No reason for the meeting was given to the groups.

Besides, the UWSA was told to arrive at the venue by 10:00 today, but details for the Mongla group is unknown. However, both UWSA and NDAA are expected to be meeting the military officials by the time of writing this report.

“The Wa left Panghsang yesterday. The group has eight members. Mongla is leaving this morning,” he said.

Panghsang group was led by Bo La kham, Chairman of the Political Consultative Conference, a source said. “Bao Youxiang could not attend the meeting because he is not in Panghsang,” he said. “His chief interpreter U Aung Myint (aka Li Julieh) is also away.”

The Wa authorities said it did not seem to matter though without their leader’s participation. On the other hand, the group “will be there only to listen’ as they have nothing new to tell the military officials;” a source quoted one of the Wa leaders as saying.

Nevertheless, with regards to the meeting, many border watchers said that it may at least concern the forthcoming elections because the junta has announced that both Mongla and Wa areas are recognized as constituencies despite the announcement by the two that political parties are banned from campaigning in their controlled areas.

In early August, Union Election Commission announced that all 55 townships in Shan State will be constituencies. In addition, the 2008 constitution designated that Wa, Danu, Palaung, Pa-O and Kokang were granted Self-Administered Areas/Zones. They are:

* Danu Self-Administered Zone: Pindaya and Ywa-ngan townships
* Kokang Self-Administered Zone: Laogai and Kungjang townships
* Palaung Self-Administered Zone: Namhsan and Mantong townships
* Pa-O Self-Administered Zone: Faikhun (Pekhon), Hopong and Hsihseng townships
* Wa Self-Administered Region: Hopang, Mongmai, Pangwai, Napharn, Panghsang and    Markmang (Metman) townships