Another 4 Cuts Campaign Ordered To

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Subject: Another 4 Cuts Campaign Ordered To Counter the Shan States Army: 

23 July 1999 

Another 4 Cuts Campaign Ordered To Counter the Shan States Army 

S.H.A.N. sources in the north reported on 21 July that the junta generals had
ordered their troops to wage the notorious "4 cuts" operations against Shan
States Army's northern expeditionary force. 

Sources close to the ceasefire groups reported S.H.A.N. that the Northeastern
Command in Lashio had issued orders to liquidate without quarter any villager
or headman that was suspected to be sympathized with the SSA, anyone that
failed to report its movements or anyone that tried to mislead thet junta
units. 

The areas that are being penetrated by the Shan States Army's northern
expeditionary force commanded by Ltc. Moengzuen are Mawha - Mawhiang in
Mongyai
Township, and Loimaw - Mongtawm in Tangyan Township. Ma Kuowen and his local
anti-insurgency militia unit is responsible for the security of the first area
and Bo Mon's other militia unit for the second. Both were from the defunct
Mong
Tai Army led by Khun Sa who surrendered in January 1996. 

At least 6 junta battalions which include IB 41, 68, 326, 332 506 and 507 are
being deployed to blockade, search and destroy the Shan force, the core of
which is Moengzuen's crack 758th Brigade. Its strength is estimated from
500 to
900. 

As a result, tortures and killings which were reminiscent of the 1997 - 98
campaigns in the that which led to mass relocations, have started. 

On the part of the Shan State Army a.k.a Shan States Army Northern, being a
ceasefire group, it was already forced to move out from its former positions
near the cordoned areas. "They have also been warned personally by Maj-Gen Tin
Aung Myint  Oo, Commander of the Northeastern Command, not to give any
assistance to Yawdserk's encircled troops". 

The SSA - N and the SSA - S fighters wear identical insignias, in accordance
with the pact they signed on 13 September 1996. 

The situation has given rise to fears of another forced relocation program
that
might end in another exodus to neighboring countries, said the source. 


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