Tension between the Burmese Army and ceasefire groups on the Sino-Burma border have  gone up dramatically following a clash between the junta’s army and Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’ two days ago, local sources and those from the Sino-Burma border said.

“It is a spontaneous action. The atmosphere is getting strained by the day. The ceasefire sides have stepped up security especially at their main bases facing the Burmese Army bases,” an informed source from the border said.

On 14 September, at 17:40 (local time), a clash occurred between a patrol of the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’s First Brigade led by Lieutenant Hseng Harn and a Burmese Army patrol from Infantry Battalion (IB) #147, based in Shan State North’s Khaihsim (its main base is in Nawngkaw in Namtu Township) near Nam Phak Tope village, Tonkeng village tract, Hsipaw township, between Hsipaw and Lashio, Shan State North capital. One SSA fighter was injured, according to a SSA officer.

Villagers in the area said three died on the Burmese Army side. “We can’t confirm the report,” he said.

The First Brigade was said to have been told by the Burmese Army to stay within its boundary and not cross north of the Mongyai-Tangyan motor road. Mongyai is located north of the First Brigade main bases, Tangyan in the northeast, Monghsu in the southeast and Kehsi in the South.

The SSA is now conducting intensive checks on everyone who enters its controlled areas and has also deployed more fighters to safeguard motor roads around its main base Wanhai such as Tangyan-Monghsu and Lashio-Monghsu motor roads.  

Besides the SSA, the latest tension between the Burmese Army and United Wa State Army (UWSA) is taking place at the Burmese Army’s strongest base Loi Panglong, northwest of the Wa headquarters Panghsang, and near Manghseng.

Meanwhile, the Mongla-based National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) is at loggerheads with the Burmese Army over the control of Loi Pangnao, the second highest mountain in Shan State. It is 8,542 ft high. The highest is Loi Leng, 8,777 ft, located in Mongyai Township. “Each is telling the other to stay off the mountain and neither is leaving,” said a source close to the group.

“Another bone of contention is Taping, the crossing of the Lwe, which marks the natural boundary between the Burmese Army and the NDAA,” said a businessman whose truck operates between Kengtung and Mongla. “Both sides are closely checking traffic travelling across the river.”

The Northeastern Region Command has reportedly ordered its units to be on a 24-hour standby including its civilian personnel. Earlier this month the same instruction was given to civilian personnel in areas along the Thai-Burma border.

Tension between the Burmese Army and ceasefire groups, the UWSA, Kachin Independence Army (KIA), SSA ‘North’ and the NDAA have been soaring since the junta’s latest deadline for the groups to disarm expired on 1 September. Both sides have been reinforcing their troops and are on heightened alert after none of them accepted the junta’s plan.

The military junta says any group that failed to surrender by the deadline will automatically become “an unlawful association.” When Naypyitaw attacked Kokang in August, it first of all declared the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) an unlawful organization.
There are only four groups (three and a quarter according to some): Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDAK), Karenni Nationalities Peoples Liberation Front (KNPLF) and Kachin Defense Army (KDA), which agreed to the BGF programme. The MNDAA, better known as Kokang, was attacked in August 2009 after a faction led by Bai Xuoqian agreed to accept it.

An analyst based on the Sino-Burma border observed tensions have drastically spiraled soon after junta chief Than Shwe’s return from China. “We don’t know whether a secret deal between the two countries has been reached over their shared border,” he said.

According to an Asia Times report, two points stood out from Senior General Than Shwe's highly anticipated visit: China's overt and unequivocal support for the elections, and Myanmar's assurance that security would be maintained during and after the polls. The latter is of special concern to Beijing due to heightened tensions between Myanmar's government and ethnic insurgent groups along their shared and strategically significant border.