Junta Beefing Up Militia to Counter

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Subject: Junta Beefing Up Militia to Counter Shans States Army: 

13 September 1999 

Junta Beefing Up Militia to Counter Shans States Army 
The military commanders in northern Shan States has been trying to reorganize
both the Shan militia and ceasefire groups to counter the Shan States Army's
northern expeditionary force, said Yawdserk, the SSA's commander-in-chief. 

Yawdserk, during the recent interview on 8 September, told SHAN, Bo Mon, the
militia chief of Loimaw, has already received 200 assorted weapons from the
SPDC (State Peace and Development Council) commanders. 

"They also considered appointing Yang Moyong, also an-ex-MTA Chinese officer,
to take over the militia operations against Moengzuen (the expeditionary
force's commander), but the field officers refused to accept his
leadership", he
said. 

"The two ceasefire groups, the Shan State Army (a.k.a Shan States Army North,
commander by Loimao) and the Shan State National Army (a.k.a Shan States Army
Central, commanded by Gunyord) have been given three choices by the
Northeastern Command: To persuade the SSA to withdraw; to attack the SSA; to
remain inside the Hsengkeo area (where the three brigades of the SSA-N set up
their General Headquarters)". 

"Meanwhile, the junta's idea is to stay back and observe how thing are
developing. They are limiting their campaign against our troops merely to
patrols and surveillances and not much on actual armed engagements". 

An observer from Thailand later remarked that the Burmese were betting
rivalries and disagreements would develop among the Shan groups that might lead
to eventual armed clashes "which suited the junta". 

"The Shan State Peace Committee (joint leadership of the SSA-N and the SSNA) is
trying the first choice i.e. persuading me to leave. But the local people are
saying we should not". 

Inquired about the military situation, he said, "There are few engagements, as
our primary aim itself is not to wage a military campaign as yet, but to
organize the people". Asked about possible forced relocations, he replied, "As
yet I have received no reports about removing the people from their homes,
although there are a lot of abuses committed against them". 

Militia leaders, who were suspected of collaborating with the SSA, were
arrested and tortured, he added. Among them was Khun Yawdmoeng, son of the late
Prince of Moengtawn and stepbrother of Khun Sa. 

/// END \\\ 
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