The Nation - SSA units launch fierc

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Subject: The Nation - SSA units launch fierce attack on Burma troops

The Nation - June 10, 1999.
SSA units launch fierce attack on Burma troops

SHAN State Army (SSA) troops have launched a fierce attack on Burmese
government units in the town of Hua Muang, once a stronghold of former
Burmese opium warlord Khun Sa who surrendered to the government three years
ago in return for amnesty, Thai army and rebel sources said yesterday.

It was reported that seven Burmese soldiers were killed, and 15 injured.

Commander of Thai Army's 7th Special Task Fore Col Surachet Chaiwong said
the figures could not be independently confirmed. There were no details of
rebel casualties.

SSA has in the past weeks been mobilising its troops at Hua Muang, which is
about 20 kilometres away from a checkpoint in Mae Hong Son province, he
said.

A senior official from the SSA told The Nation on condition of anonymity
that the SSA is trying to regain some of the territory lost to Burmese
government troops and cut off the government's supply routes.

A battalion of 1,500 SSA troops was involved in the attack and seized a
significant portion of land from the army, according to another rebel
source.

''The SSA will carry on attacking the enemy until they retreat,'' Shan State
Army Major Kam Laeng was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying.

The engagements prompted Burmese authorities to impose a night-time curfew
in the border districts and close all frontier checkpoints with Thailand,
the sources said.

A group of around 300 refugees fled the fighting and was stranded near the
border, they added.

The SSA has around 5,000 men under arms and joined renegade factions of Khun
Sa's Mong Tai Army which fought a 20-year struggle against Rangoon before
1996.

Since the surrender of Khun Sa, SSA has launched a series of attacks against
drug trafficking groups in Shan State in an effort to convince the
international community that they are drug-free.

It's leader, Col Yawd Serk, said he's willing to work with the Thai Army to
put a stop to drug trafficking and production along the Thai-Burmese border.

The Nation, Agence France-Presse