The Wa army battlions based on the Thai-Burma border have been ordered to train for simulated battles and artillery firing by the UWSA (United Wa State Army) headquartered in Pansan, The battalions have also been storing food and weapons, said a border source.

On the orders of Pansan HQ, Lt. Col Yan Kaw Kyon, the commander of Huay Aww battalion, 171 military region, ordered Wa' battalions based in BP 1/ BP 2, Ho Yut, Ho Pan, Kyu Zan Kap, Mueng Kyut, Huay Aww, Nam Hu Khun, and Wa villages to store dry rations and keep weapons and ammunitions at hand.

"We have to make rice powder, dried pork and meat, and shrink fried. We have to pack them and keep ready for use, said a local 'Wa'."

"It was not true that four 'Wa' army camps based in the mountain range of Kyu Hu Lon and Loi Khilake have been asked to move back. We heard that they were giving artillery training in Khy Hu Lon camp from July 24 to 31. We heard that six Chinese officials came to train them," said locals.

After Major General Kyaw Win, commander of the special military operation in Shan and Kayah state went back in late July, Major Gen Min Aung Hlaing, the commander of triangle command, and Maj. Gen Mya Win, commander of heavy artilleries, went to Mueng Ton and Mueng Serk. The reason for their trip was to attend the opening ceremony of a sports ground in Mueng Serk on July 31. They arrived in Nar Kaung Muu on August 1 and left for TarKhilek on August 2. According to locals, both of them went back to Kuen Ton on August 3. A military analyst found it hard to believe that the commander of heavy artilleries went to attend the opening ceremony of a sports ground. It was possible that he went to check military operation in the area because 'Wa' army refused to go back to their companies.

In August 1, Col. Than Tin Aung,commander of Ponpar Kheng strategic command, explained to the head men of villages that the news concerning the movement of the 'Wa' army has been broadcast from the media in exile. The idea was create disunity..After the conslusion of the Nyaung Napin convention, there would be five townships inlcluded in the new constitution as 'Wa' self-administerd areas Then the ('Wa') will go back to their area, said local source.

After the Nuang Napin convention, 'Wa' families, who has been living in Thai-Burma border, will have their family data checked. If they don't have any documents, they must move to northern 'Wa' region, said a local close to Tarchilek authorities.

In 1995 Da Nu representatives proposed in the national convention that eastern Salween area of Mueng Mai, Pan Wai, Wam Phant, Nar Phan and Pan Yam townships be recognized as 'Wa' self-administrative areas.

Besides, after the battle with Khun Sar Led MTA (Mueng Tai Army) in 1990, they came down to southern region for survival of the 'Wa' people. In northern 'Wa' region, only poppy can be grown because of the weather and soil. If they cannot plant poppy, they cannot live in the region. Therefore, they came to southern region for growing rubber, tea-leaf, and vegetables. They won't move to northern region. There will be no danger for the nation because 'Wa' army will continue to keep peace, U Khun Thein said to Radio Free Asia in a July 29 interview. U Khun Thein is an officer of the agricultural and forest department in UWSP (United Wa State Party).

Even though SPDC pressurized 'Wa' army to step back, the 'Wa' army refused and began giving training to new soldiers, simulating battle, storing food and weaponry. According to a local, "they set up a platoon with 10 villagers and gave them training. They also provided M 21, M 22, and M 23 machine guns."

At the end of July after SPDC ordered the 'Wa' army in Mueng Ton-Mueng Serk area to go back to 'Wa' northern region, 'Wa' leaders held an emergency meeting in UWSA headquarter in Pansan between July 19 and 22. The meeting decided that they would not obey the SPDC's order.