Burma Army Staff Officer Grade 1 of the Triangle Region Command recently told National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) aka Mongla group that the two should not stay aloof from each other, instead they should do better to restore their friendly relations, according to informed sources from the Sino-Burma border.

“It was told by the new G1 Col Khin Maung Htwe when he met Sai Soe Win, NDAA’s liaison officer in Kengtung at the end of last month,” a source said.

“Sai Soe Win, in response said that he agreed with the Colonel but it would be better if the junta authorities lift the closure of the Taping checkpoint and allow goods from both sides to pass through.”

Colonel Khin Maung Htwe said the order to close Taping checkpoint on the Lwe came from the top as Chinese goods coming through Mongla side were considered illegal since the junta’s immigration and customs officials were no longer in Mongla, which is located opposite China’s Daluo. 

The Burma Army’s Triangle Region Command (TRC) has ordered its units guarding Taping checkpoint, the crossing of the Lwe, which marks the natural boundary between Burma Army and NDAA-controlled areas, stopped the passage of goods coming from Mongla and Tachilek-Kengtung since 23 November.

Following the closure of the checkpoint, prices of commodities especially those from Thailand have increased. Colonel Khin Maung Htwe however did not give any reason for banning the Thai products even though they had gone through legal procedures at Tachilek.

“Mongla said it has yet to face any adverse impact from the closure,” a source close to the group said. “But it will be different in the long term.”

A border watcher commented that the situation is similar to anti-Rangoon Mong Tai Army (MTA) of Khun Sa before its surrender in 1996. One of the factors that had forced the MTA to disintegrate was the border closure by Thailand.

“Because of the closure, prices of goods doubled while the revenue dropped,” he said. “It broke the back of the MTA in the end.”