Trouble in the Other Golden Triangle
Slowly
as the years go on,
You lose friends you never thought you would.
Xzavier Zulu, Kushandwizdom
I was told in early September following the
conclusion of the “historic” Union Peace Conference (21st Century Panglong), United Wa State Army (UWSA) leaders had
expressed their displeasure with its
I knew that Mongla, due to its aspiration of
becoming a Self Administered Zone (SAZ), was developing closer relationship
with Naypyitaw. But I had mistakenly taken for granted that the Wa, that
already has been awarded a Self Administered Division (SAD), wouldn’t be hard
to convince.
Most likely I didn’t have all the facts and the
crack between two allies are deeper and wider than what we outsiders knew.
On 28 September, 63 Dongfeng military trucks led by
3 (some say 5) armored vehicles rolled into the NDAA domain, that occupies
Burma’s part of the “Other Golden Triangle”, the remaining two being Laos and
China’s Yunnan.
The 600 troops quickly surprised the defenders and
seized the two strategic mountain outposts (Loi Kiuhsai and Loi Hsarm Hsoom)
and the border checkpoint (Pang Markfai), apparently without facing resistance
(some said the NDAA leaders thought the misunderstandings could be sorted out
without resorting to bloodshed).
“We tried to contact Panghsang to inquire what this
is all about,” said an official source from Mongla. “But there was no
response.”
 |
Zhao Zhongdang
|
As the two strategic outposts and the border
checkpoint are facing the Burma Army-guarded Taping checkpoint on the Lwe, a
tributary of the Mekong, its Triangle Region Command based in Kengtung at once
made inquiries. The responses from the Wa side were not clear, according to
Burma Army sources. “One Wa official said it was just a military exercise,
nothing to worry about,” said one. “The other said it was just a dispute
between subordinate units of the two sides and leaders believe they will be
able to fix it in no time.”
SHAN said it was able to reach U Aung Myint aka Li
Julie, the UWSA’s spokesman (at least until recently), but he had politely
declined to answer.
The latest report is that Zhao Zhongdang, the UWSA’s
deputy commander-in-chief, is coming to Mongla to parley.
 |
Bao
Youxiang with U Aung Myint on his left
|
The Wa presence in Mongla goes as far back as 2011, when the NDAA’s
outposts along the Mekong: Wankho, Pong Hiet and Mongfan, were attacked by the
Burma Army, citing security along the international river. The outnumbered NDAA
had called for help and the Wa reciprocated by dispatching 3 battalions from
the Mongpawk-based 468th Brigade (now commanded by Bao Ai Ban,
nephew of the Wa supreme leader Bao Youxiang).
And, like most invited armies, the UWSA hasn’t
bothered about returning to their home base since.
 |
Sai Leun
|
Of course, we don’t know
what exactly Zhao is going to tell the Mongla leaders. But two things are
certain:
·
It will be easier for the Wa to give up its southern bases along the
Thai border than to give up Mongla, the obvious result of which will be getting
itself completely encircled by hostile forces
·
The Wa now enjoy a distinct upper hand over Sai Leun. It stands to
reason that he will have to accept most, if not all, of the conditions imposed
by the Wa
As for Naypyitaw, and the
other ethnic armed groups, both signatories and non-signatories, the time will
soon come to decide whether to choose the victor or the vanquished. And their
decision will definitely affect the ongoing peace process.
Tags: Opinion
