The present condition between the Burmese army and the Wa rebels has worsened since both parties have strengthened their troops. The United Wa State Army (UWSA) is controlling areas in the southern region on the east Salween, opposite Chiang Mai province, SHAN report said.
It was reported that the Burmese army demanded the troops of UWSA to remove their 171 bases from the southern region and transfer to Panghsang, their former place in the northern region until the 7th of June.
An emergency meeting was held last June 2 at UWSA southern command but it was not mentioned on the finality of the troops’ withdrawal. Burma border guard forces 1007 were positioned at Pongpakhem and are on alert status.
The Burmese army are ready for a war and they fear that the United Wa State Army (UWSA) would attack their base. But according to a local from Pongpakhem, they have not seen any movement from the WA troop.
On the other hand, the Burma Army has reinforced 14 armor vehicles, 10 military trucks fully loaded with soldiers from Tachileik, opposite Mae Sai, Thailand, towards Mongton, Monghsat, Mongtum, and Mongkang; they have been deployed where UWSA southern region command is located.
Some analysts says that the growing tension between the UWSA and the Burmese army resulted to the confiscation of a rubber plantation belonging to the Wa rebels by 3 battalions of the Burma army in the last week of May.
UWSA reacted and has alerted its troops to be in a ready position along Thai-Burma border.
Due to the plantations, people in Pongpakhem have insufficient supply of water since they depend on the same water resources for agriculture and the sustenance for their everyday living.
A Burmese officer further disclosed that it is their responsibility to protect the people since they don’t own any guns while the Wa rebels have. With this, the Burma Army operations commander based in Pongpakhem ordered reinforcement with several hundred troops in Mongkhit areas, said news report from SHAN.
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