Burmese troops masquerading as construction workers
New Burmese army arrivals in contested areas around Wanhai, the headquarters of the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) in Kehsi township, Loilem district, are changing their uniforms into civvies, as they enter the areas, according to sources from central Shan State.
U Thein Zaw speaking to SSPP/SSA delegation, 18 October 2014. (Photo: News light of Myanmar)
“Those coming from the Northeastern Region Command (based in Lashio) changed their clothes on arrival at Nam Lawng Bridge (south of Mongyai) and those going from the Central Eastern Region Command (based in Kholam) at Wanzing near Mongnawng”, said source. “But all of their trucks are carrying arms including heavy weapons.”
The new development followed the meeting between the SSPP/SSA delegation and U Thein Zaw, a Vice Chairman of the Union Peacemaking Work Committee (UPWC) on 18 October in Lashio, where he proposed the formation of a joint committee for development and stability. SSPP/SSA later held a meeting at Wanhai to discuss the matter, but so far it has been unable to reach a decision.
Meanwhile the Burma Army has demanded that the SSPP/SSA remove its troops from 4 more bases along the west bank of the Salween. The two sides, despite having signed preliminary ceasefire agreements, have already fought at least 6 major campaigns.
Comments
Burmese Army incursions increase
Recent articles on Myanmar have reported a build up of Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) in the areas in the north of Shan State which is the largest State after Burma and home to several insurgent groups; Shan State Army (SSA)-North aligned with the Shan State Progress Party, SSA-South aligned to the Restoration Council of Shan State, the Eastern Shan State Army (ESSA) or National Democratic Alliance Army which does not figure prominently in these news stories like the United Wa State Army (UWSA) from the Wa Self Administered Division.
For more than a decade the Tatmadaw has been increasing its influence with the Wa whose territory borders on that occupied by the SSA-N. This influence with the Wa was partly responsible for the dissolution of the Mong Tai Army(MTA) under Khun Sa which largely regrouped around the Restoration Council and the Shan National League for Democracy and called SSA-S.
Essentially a long term effort to create distrust and competition between ethnic minorities which is a destructive trend through the modern history of the country.