As Shan State Army and Burma army are head to head reinforcing their troops along the west Salween between Tangyan and Kehsi townships and as the war is imminent, fearing that the fight would cross and spread to east Salween, United Wa State Army (UWSA) has alerted its troops to be ready, according to the local news sources.

“The units of government army is increasingly reinforcing its troops into the Shan State Army controlled areas such as Loi Khok, Loi Zay, Loi Khio and Loi Lan, the areas where the latter bases are located. At the same time, SSA has also deployed their troops to defend its positions. On the other hand, as the tension between the two rivals—SSA and the Burma Army is growing, it has worried USWA that the fight would spread cross over to east of the Salween and its troops have been alert to be prepared and ready,” an officer from SSA said.

A commander of SSPP/SSA led by Lt-Gen Pang Fa told SHAN that UWSA does not want to see Loi Zay falls. “Meanwhile, we are reinforcing our troops in northern region, we also won’t neglect in Southern Shan State,” he continued.

“From Loi Zay, you can see Panghsang clearly. Loi Zay is just like a key to enter Panghsang. This is why UWSA has a good reason to worry about as to why they don’t want Loi Zay, the SSA base to be fallen as the Burma Army would gain an upper hand strategically. A week ago, a convoy of Burma military trucks fully loaded with armored and heavy weapons were moving towards the war zone areas. It is UWSA that takes seriously as the tension in the region grows,” a local man said.

Meanwhile things have become heated along the Thai Burmese border too.

“In mid-April, during Thingyan (Water splashing festival), at Pongpakhem, on the way leading to Wa Army bases, a bomb planted by unknown group exploded when two Lahu men who were riding on motorcycle stepped on it in which both were killed on the spot,” said a local in Pongpakhem, Mongton township, opposite Chiangmai.

In response to the tension between SSA and Burma army grows in the north, Wa army bases in the south stationed along the Thai-Shan border are not only reinforcing its troops, also tightening security. A number of Thai-Shan border checkpoints under the Wa army controlled (illegal border crossing checkpoints) were also closed. However, the Mongton locals who are depending on Thai goods, are now facing shortage of food said Ai Hsoi, a local from Pongpakhem.

SHAN reported earlier that the total number of troops concentrating in the Monghsu-Tangyan region has reached at least 5,000 counting both sides.