The Burma Army harbours no plans to attack Wa. The area commander of Pongpakhem sub-township, Mongton Township, opposite Chiangmai, denied yesterday that the army plans to forcibly dislodge Wa units stationed along the Thai-Burma border, according to a veteran Thai security source.

Chatting with villagers yesterday, Col Than Tin Aung blamed the media for stirring up unrest by reporting the Wa had been ordered by the Burma Army to pull out from their strongholds along the border bases and return to the north. "It was a trick to create an atmosphere of mistrust between us," he was reported to have said.

The commander was speaking after a two-day visit to the Mongton-Monghsat townships by the regional commander Maj-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by the commander of artillery Maj-Gen Mya Win from the new capital. There are two artillery battalions AB 383 and 386 stationed in the area.

Nevertheless, the Wa must consider pulling back to the Sino-Burma border where they came from. "The National Convention has designated their Self Administered Region there," he was quoted as saying. "That's where they should be."

The junta-organized constitutional convention, in response to proposals by Danu, Kokang, Palaung, PaO and Wa for self-rule, has since 1995 divided parts of Shan State as separate self-administered areas for them.

The Wa self-administered region has five townships: Mongmai, Pangwai, Manphang, Napharn and Pangyang, all along the Sino-Burma border.

It is still unclear whether or not the 60,000-120,000 civilians from the north who have been resettled along the Thai-Burma border since 1999 would also have to move back. Col Yawdserk, leader of the Shan State Army (SSA) South, said earlier, "The Wa are citizens of Shan State. As such, they can live wherever they like within the state. My only request is that they do not remove those who are already there."

If the Burmese commander's words were meant to comfort the United Wa State Army (UWSA), it had clearly failed, according to Shan and Thai sources. "They are arming their reservists," said a source from the border. "Women have been told to prepare emergency rations for men. The ration consists of rice mixed with meat both roasted and pounded."

Meanwhile, the Burma Army is on maneuvers in Namzang, 100 kilometere east of the state capital Taunggyi, according to the SSA. "Mountain tops are being bombed from the air and captured by the infantry in mock battles," said a senior officer.

Since mid July, the UWSA's southern forces along the Thai-Burma border have been ordered by the Burma Army to move out. The Wa has so far refused to bow to the Burma Army's demand.