Junta personnel on the Thai-Burma border ordered a 24-hour standby

Written by Hseng Khio Fah

Tuesday, 07 September 2010 16:48

Latest reports from the Thai-Burma border say all junta personnel from every department in
Shan State East’s Mongton and Monghsat townships where the United Wa State Army
(UWSA)’s 171st  Military Region is based, opposite Thailand’s Chiangmai, were informed by the
regional commander to pack all their materials to be ready for evacuation from Sunday onward.

The message was passed in a circular letter from the Military Operations Command (MOC) #14
based in Monghsat on Sunday, 5 September. The letter was said to have come from Kengtung
Headquarters, according to a civil servant from education department in Mongton.

The letter said, “Due to the UWSA’s defiance to Naypyitaw, top ranking officials thereby has
made directive to all junta personnel to prepare and pack all of their important materials to be
ready 24 hours in order to be able to evacuate because the army cannot predict how much and
how long the tensions will go on.”

“Everyone therefore must be ready and comply with the order when it is received,” she said.
“But we were told not to inform local residents about the preparations.”

“Rumors being talked among our government say that the Wa will be wiped out whenever the
junta wants,” the source said.

Reports of the Wa fighters’ preparations for war were also received. All 5 brigades under the
171st military region were called to gather at their main base Hwe Aw since 1 September and
were given intensive military training. Another training called ‘mocked evacuation’ started this
morning, according to a source from Nakawngmu, who has close relationship with the Wa.

“We are always told to be ready but not to panic,” a southern Wa fighter told SHAN.

Likewise, Thai authorities along the border with the Wa region have also been conducting
mocked evacuation exercises for local villagers for about two weeks, said a villager from
Chiangmai’s Wianghaeng District.

The UWSA's 171st Military Region comprises five brigades, spreading along the Mongton and
Monghsat townships in eastern Shan State, opposite to Maehongson, Chiangmai and Chiangrai
of Thailand.

“Burma Army trucks are passing through our village [Nakawngmu] every day. There was one in
the morning along with soldiers. Their uniforms were dirty with mud. One passed on 6
September and 3 on 5 September,” said a local resident of Nakawngmu.

Since the junta’s latest deadline, 1 September, military tensions between the Burma Army and
ceasefire groups escalated in several areas on the Thai-Burma border and Sino-Burma border
as ceasefire groups’ defiance was maintained. Currently, military troops have been in positions
in areas facing the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’, UWSA and National Democratic Alliance
Army (NDAA) on the Sino-Burma border as well.

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Junta personnel on the Thai-Burma border ordered a 24-hour standby

Written by Hseng Khio Fah

Tuesday, 07 September 2010 16:48

But according to Chinese security officials based along the border with Wa and NDAA, the
military junta would not launch major operations in Panghsang and Mongla before the elections
are over.

“But if there is an opportunity to take some bases by quick action, they [military junta] may first
attack the SSA ‘North’ and some areas along the Thai-Burma border.”

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