A Burma Army patrol had recently trespassed on the United Wa State Army (UWSA) controlled area in Eastern Shan State, according to the local news sources.

“The patrol from Mongkhark based Infantry Battalion (IB) 281 crossed the Nam Lwe and trespassed on our 468th Brigade area. We had gone to intercept them as soon as we were informed, but they had already escaped across the river. We don’t know why they came,” a commander from the UWSA said.

According to the locals, they are from Pang Kay military camp of Infantry Battalion 281 which is based in upper Wan Nam Hook between Mongyang Township and Mongkhark Township, Kengtung District.

“They came to the 468th Brigade area at Htam Mon, which is situated across the Nam Lwe, west of Mongyang. Although we don’t know their purpose exactly, it could have been 3 reasons: 1) because of orders from the Tactical Operations Command’s, 2) to extort the villagers, and 3) to inspect our military camps,” an officer from the 468th Brigade commented.

An unconfirmed report said that the Burma Army is planning to attack the UWSA either from Shan State Army (SSA) North’s controlled area or the Mongla based National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), that shares its border with the UWSA on the upper Nam Lwe. Meanwhile, the Jane’s Intelligence report on April 29, quoting ethnic sources, claims the UWSA to has obtained 5 helicopter gunships from the Chinese government to enhance its defense capability from the Burma Army’s attacks.