The United Wa State Army (UWSA) delegation is scheduled to meet Naypyitaw’s Peace Negotiating Team led by U Aung Thaung sometime after the Water Throwing Festival (13-16 April), according to sources from the Wa capital Panghsang on the Sino-Burmese border.

The two sides have already met 3 times:

• 6 September 2011      Kengtung        Signing ceasefire agreement
• 1 October 2011          Lashio             Signing agreement not to secede from the Union
• 26 December 2011     Panghsang      Signing agreement to “continue negotiating” on having representatives in Union, People’s and State legislatures

One issue to be discussed at the next meeting is the continued red tape by Burmese authorities on supplies going into Wa areas, according to the sources. “Also international aid workers are getting only monthly permit to work in Wa. Both the Wa and UN are pushing for longer permit, 3-6 months.”

Unlike the Shan State Army (SSA), both North and South factions, that have also signed ceasefire agreements, there are no reports of clashes between the UWSA and the Burma Army although military buildup along the shared front continues.

The re-arming of the able-bodied Wa villagers late March by the Thai border based 171st Military Region, UWSA, could be one result of the mutual mistrust, said a veteran border watcher.

So far the Burma Army has fought 14 clashes with the SSA South, commanded by Lt-Gen Yawdserk, and 7 clashes with the SSA North, commanded by Lt-Gen Pang Fa.