Wa mull over how to say No
Shan Herald Agency for News - As well nigh all ceasefire groups anxiously waited to hear what the United Wa State Army (UWSA) has to say to the latest proposal made by Burma’s ruling generals before giving their own, the group in focus itself has been busy composing a suitable response, according to a highly-placed source close to the leadership.
The source said given the overwhelming opposition to the proposal that the ceasefire groups transform themselves into border defense forces by the generals with a total disregard for their calls for greater autonomy and democracy, the problem was not what to tell the generals but rather how to tell them.
“A meeting was held following the return of (Vice President) Xiao Minliang following his return from Tangyan (where he met Lt-Gen Ye Myint, Chief of Military Affairs Security to hear the Border Guard Force proposition),” he said. “Only 2% were undecided. The rest were of the opinion that the proposal was unacceptable.”
Vice President Xiao Minliang (Photo: UWSA's 20th anniversary publication)
According to him, considering the junta’s policy of self-reliance for its own units, which has caused enormous burden on the local populace, it was better for the UWSA to rely on itself to feed, clothe and equip its own troops. “We also foresee communication problems as few of us are familiar with the Burmese language,” he said. “Having Burmese officers to live among us and train us will not ease the problem.”
The Wa have been given until the end of June to respond to the “ultimatum.” “This is the second time in a year we are receiving an ultimatum,” he remembered.
Following what is known as the “Nargis” referendum on the junta-drafted constitution, the Wa were told to disarm themselves by August 2008. The latter had flatly refused to comply with.
Bao Youliang (Wa supreme leader’s younger brother and finance chief) had also pointed out to Ye Myint during the meeting in Tangyan that given the fact that the two top junta commanders were septuagenarians, it was unfair to demand that Wa officers over 50 retire.
The Wa’s closest ally Mongla is also undergoing several meetings at every level both to explain and sound out about Naypyitaw’s latest proposal. “We will also ask the people whether or not they would like to live under the Burma Army rule,” said a Mongla source.
So far, only about 5% of the leadership who have made huge financial investments in Burma have voted to go along with Naypyitaw’s demand, he told SHAN.
In the meanwhile, automobiles in the areas under the control of the National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS), Mongla’s official name, have been instructed to stand by. No reason has been given.
The Wa have also continued to block the entry of immigration officials who since 4 April have been stranded at Kho Hsoong, which marks the boundary between Panghsang and Mongla’s domains. “Naypyitaw said they would not return without accomplishing their mission (taking census in Wa areas) and the Wa are not letting them in,” explained a source from the nearby Mongyang.
Taking census and reorganization of ceasefire groups under the Tatmadaw supervision are part of the ruling junta’s preparations for the 2010 elections. Thus far, the election law has yet to be announced.
