Tension mounting between government army and UWSA

Tension mounting between government army and UWSA

Published on Thursday, 04 July 2013 19:52

 68th Army Day held in Nay Pyi Taw (Photo-AFP)

Tension is mounting between the government army and the United Wa State Army (UWSA) in Tachilek District, southern Shan State, but it is less likely to translate into battle, military observers told to The Daily Eleven on July 3.

Tension has remained high since May when government troops occupied the UWSA-owned rubber plantation in Mongyawn. Also during this month, tension has increased back between the two sides because the government army demanded that the UWSA  move some of its military bases back from disputed areas.
As the UWSA turned down the demand of the government army on the retreat from Lwekaungmu base in Mongton, it has still been surrounded by the army since the end of June, Hsam Tun, the second incharge of UWSA's External Relations Department told Shwehintha News Agency on July 2.

"The army has surrounded some bases of the UWSA for one week, but has not attacked them yet. Our leaders have now been in Kengtung for negotiation purpose. The army has informed us to address the situation, but has not done it so far," he added.

The Daily Eleven made contact with concerned authorities as to the current situations between the army and the UWSA, but none would be willing to speak on the record.

Despite seeing tension between the army and the UWSA, few analysts think this will translate into a full battle.

The problem has been a long standing one between the two groups. Government's attitude towards the Wa may be one of hostility, however. But because of the rainy season is approaching, few thinks clashes, if any, would not come until the end of the rainy season.

Also the international community is keeping a close watch on that. There might be pressure on the UWSA with respect to narcotic drugs, said Aung Kyaw Zaw who is close to ethnic armed groups who is also living along Myanmar-China border.

Military observers pointed out that one of the root causes of growing tension between the government army and the UWSA was that the government wanted to re-control Wa's southern part bordering Thailand.

The UWSA had its northern headquarter in Panghsang and was active there. Up to 1994-1995, it also helped to fight Shan opium warlord Khun Sa who was active in southern Shan State.

In 1996, Khun Sa surrendered to the government. The UWSA took over some of the territory that Khun Sa's Mong Tai Army had occupied near the Thai border.

Afterwards, about 90,000 ethnic Wa and villagers, including ethnic Chinese, in UWSA-controlled area near the Chinese border were relocated to the southern region along the Thai border.

Wa regained its southern part after the loss of 5,000 lives. For that reason, Wa does not want to lose its southern party in an easy way, said Aung Kyaw Zaw.

There are five divisions with an estimated 19,000 soldiers in the southern part of Wa in comparison of its northern part.

The government has already plans when and how to launch an operation. Now the government is closing on a peace deal with the Shan State Army- South and in this time it shift their attention to the UWSA.

The government had combined forces with the Wa on several occasions in their battle against the SSA.

"It is just like a game. As Wa is a part of the government's giant projects, I don't think there may appear a big problem," Colonel Khun Okka of Pa-O National Liberation Organization told The Daily Eleven.

An unconfirmed report on July 3 said the UWSA 's liaison offices Kengtung and Tachilek were closed.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/07/05/tension-mounting-between-government-army-and-uwsa/