Five Wa fighters of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) 171st Military Region based along Thai-Burma border, who came in a four-wheel truck, were reportedly attacked by Burma Army soldiers leaving one dead and the truck damaged, according to sources.
The said Wa fighters were said to be heading to Mongjawd from their Loi Mon base in Monghta where Naypyitaw had recently set up a new sub-township of Mongton township, opposite Chiangmai province.
“The incident took place on 5 May in the morning. It was the handiwork of a Burma Army unit active in the area, but we were not able to identify what battalion it was,” said a local villager.
Burma Army troops known to be active in the area are Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 519 and Infantry Battalion (IB) 225 under the command of Pongpakhem Operations commander.
“On the next day, the operations commander was transferred to another area after the Wa side complained to higher ranking officers,” a source said.
The issue was resolved after the Burma Army made an official apology, the source added. “Last year, on October 20, 3 of its men were also killed by LIB 519 in Maeken. The problem was solved in the similar way.”
Regarding to these “happy endings,”, a Thai-Burma border watcher commented that the reason that the Wa are yielding to the Burma Army easily is because it doesn’t want to enter a war and it also wants to hold talks with the new president Thein Sein.
“Otherwise they would have got even with the Burma Army,” he said.
A few days ago, Panghsang, headquarters of the UWSA, has reportedly sent a belated letter of felicitations to Thein Sein for his efforts to end up corruption and to build regional stability. The letter also expressed hopes of holding talks again, according to sources.
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