Panghsang dispatches top fighter to the Thai-Burma border

Written by Hseng Khio Fah

Wednesday, 08 September 2010 17:23

Wei Hsaitang, one of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) veteran commanders together with 3
battalions of tough fighters from Panghsang Headquarters on the Sino-Burma border were
deployed to the UWSA’s 171st Military Region based along the Thai-Burma border recently,
according to sources from both Shan and Thai security officials.

The force was reported to have been assigned by Panghsang to cope with the situation of their
bases facing all the Burma Army outposts, said an informed source from the Thai-Burma
border.

The force is now said to have been taking positions at their strategic mountains: Nawng Wen
and Loi Htwe (Doi Thoei in Thai), opposite Muangna village, Chiangmai’s Chiangdao District,
according to a Thai security officer. “Following Hsai’s arrival, tensions between the Burma Army
and the Wa seems more tense.”

“Hsai is one of the commanders who know the terrain along the Thai-Burma border as he had
experience   during fighting against Khun Sa’s Mong Tai Army (1989-1996),” the source said.

Wei Hsaitang aka Ta Htang is a former commander of Duli Tuan (Independent Regiment) of
Mongyawn, Monghsat Township, which later became the 518th Brigade under the 171st Military
Region.

Hsai was said to have been imprisoned by Panghsang in 2002 (he was released two years ago)
for producing counterfeit Burmese paper currencies with assistance of a Thai businessman and
was also suspected of having formed a secret alliance with the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’.
During that time, the Wa and the Burma Army still had close ties with each other.

But the two’s relationship turned sour after the ouster of Gen Khin Nyunt, and especially after
Naypyitaw pressured the group to convert into junta run border guard force (BGF) in April 2009.
Due to its defiance, the Burma Army had ordered its Thai-Burma border units to return to their
original area on the Sino-Burma border.

A Thai-Burma border watcher analyst that military operation may likely break out along
Mongtaw -Monghta, west of Mongton, 10 miles north of the border of Thailand’s Chiangmai and
another at Mongjawd, where the UWSA’s 772nd brigade is based, and is also the gateway to
the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South” base Loi Taileng.

“If Burma Army will not reinforce its men to the areas, the Wa fighters seem to be able to handle
the existing Burma Army strength,” said a Thai officer from a base opposite the Wa region.

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Panghsang dispatches top fighter to the Thai-Burma border

Written by Hseng Khio Fah

Wednesday, 08 September 2010 17:23

Starting from 1 September, both the Burma Army and the Wa fighters have been in preparation
for battle. At the same time, all junta personnel in areas along the Thai-Burma border have also
been ordered to be on a 24 hour standby and for junta personnel working in Panghsang on the
Sino-Burma border were told to evacuate.

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