Lt-Gen Yawdserk, leader of the non-ceasefire Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’, told SHAN yesterday the Burma Army is gearing up for a showdown with the United Wa State Army (UWSA)’s 171st Military Region on the Thai-Burma border.

“The recent setting up of a new command in Kholam is part of the ongoing preparations,” he said.

Kholam is located 105 miles (168km) east of Shan State capital Taunggyi, halfway between Namzang and Kunhing.

Until late last year, it was part of Namzang township. However, following the visit by Deputy Senior Gen Maung Aye late November, it and its surrounding areas had been carved out to become a new sub-township.

Irrawaddy reported earlier that a “Middle East Region Command”,with headquarters in Kholam, has been set up. “It is certainly a new military command,” said Yawdserk. “But there is as yet no confirmation that it’ll be a regional command separate from Taunggyi (where the Eastern Region Command is based).”

The Burma Army has so far established 3 regional commands in Shan State: the Northeastern with HQ in Lashio, the Eastern with HQ in Taunggyi and the Triangle with HQ in Kengtung.

While other Burma observers think the Burma Army’s latest move is aimed at the SSA North that has refused to become part and parcel of the Tatmadaw (National Armed Forces), Yawdserk thinks Maung Aye’s immediate objective is the UWSA’s 171st Military Region, which is some 200 miles (320km) apart from its main base in Panghsang on the Sino-Burma border. The Burma Army and its people’s militia units are active in between.

Maung Aye, the ruling junta’s #2 man, is long reported to have held a grudge against Kokang and Wa. The attack on Kokang last year was said to have been personally engineered by him.

“The offensive,” says Yawdserk, “may start anytime, even before a new government is formed.”

The 171st Military Region, with 5 under strength brigades, is nominally commanded by Wei Xuegang, wanted in both Thailand and the United States on drug charges. Border watchers earlier reported his archrival Wei Hsaitang, an experienced military commander, was down in the 171st, but the UWSA sources have rejected them. “If he went south, it was only a temporary visit.” said one late last month. “His permanent posting is with the 318th Brigade (guarding the border with Burma Army occupied Kokang).”

The 171st is already hemmed in by the Burma Army’s Triangle Region Command and Military Operations Commands #14 and 17, altogether some 50 infantry battalions.

Apart from the UWSA, the SSA South is also active along the Thai-Burma border areas, opposite Maehongson, Chiangmai and Chiangrai provinces.

China was reported to have warned Burma against waging war along the mutual border. Thailand, on the other hand, has no such agreement with Naypyitaw.