War of nerves continues as deadline expires

10 March went by without reports of either side, the Burma Army or the anti-Border Guard Force ceasefire armies, resuming peaceful overtures to each other, according to sources from Shan State.

10 March was the 4th and latest deadline set by Naypyitaw. According to Chinese officials, another negative response to the Border Guard Force (BGF) plan would lead to open war and declaration of the ceasefire groups as illegal organizations by 15 March.

“The situation is grim,” said the source close to the Wa leadership in Panghsang, opposite China’s Menglien.

On the Burma Army side, one more light infantry division (LID), the 77th based in Pegu, since last week has been moving into Shan State North. There are already 3 LIDs around the United Wa State Army (UWSA) controlled territory on the Sino-Burma border: 33rd (Sagaing), 55th (Kalaw) and 99th (Meikhtila).

In Mongkhark and Mongyang, facing UWSA troops in Mongpawk, south of Panghsang, Burmese officers have also been busy giving pep talks to their troops. “Nothing can stop us from restoring Mongpawk (to Mongyang township),” one officer in Mongyang was reported as saying.

The Burma Army cannot be faulted for its morale-boosting activities. In Mongpawk, where the UWSA’s 468th Division is located, officers are reportedly exhorting the people to be prepared for the worst. “We are ready to repel the enemies, whether they are coming by land or by air,” one officer said to the villagers in Mongphen, a sub-township of Mongpawk.

Since 2 March, all units have been placed on the highest alert. “Before 2 March, we were told not to fire unless attacked,” said the source. “But now we are to shoot once the enemy moves across the ceasefire boundary.”

The Wa’s southern ally, the National Decocratic Alliance Army (NDAA), for the last two weeks, has been busy switching its 369th Brigade in Hsaleu, near the UWSA’s Mongpawk, with the 896th from Mongla. An NDAA officer told SHAN the change was according to its “long laid” plans.

Both Wa and Mongla sources confirmed they had no further meetings with the Burma Army’s representatives since 25 February.

Only the UWSA’s western ally the Shan State Army (SSA) North’s boss Loimao had held the latest meeting with Lashio-based Northeastern Region commander Maj Gen Aung Than Tut on 9 March. He was accompanied by Kherh Tai, Sai Awn, Hla Myint and LernZeun. No details of the meeting was disclosed by the media shy group however. But a source close to the group assured SHAN, “Diplomacy will continue.”

With the 2010 elections upcoming, there is a possibility that areas under the control of the armed ceasefire groups that have refused to accept the BGF plan unconditionally as demanded by Naypyitaw may be excluded “for security reasons,” reported Mizzima News, quoting the law on Election Commission, “enacted” byNaypyitaw on 8 March.

Source :http://shanland.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2960:war-of-nerves-continues-as-deadline-expires&catid=86:war&Itemid=284