14 : Watchers forecast looming border war

 
Both Thai and Shan sources are predicting imminent hostilities breaking out between the Shan State Army (SSA) South and the Burma Army as the monsoon draws to a close.

For months the Burma Army had been counselling Google - earth, the satellite map on the Internet, to pinpoint the SSA bases and installations along the Thai border for precision bombings and shellings, said a veteran Thai source. Im pretty certain the juntas target is Loi Taileng (the SSA main base opposite Maehongson province), he told S.H.A.N.

Another source however begged to differ with him. We don't see any significant Burma Army preparations underway in areas surrounding Loi Taileng, he said. But around Loi Kawwan (opposite Chiangrai province) we are witnessing more bunkers and there is greater demand for construction materials from Maesai these days.

One regular S.H.A.N. source in southern Shan State also reported seeing 20 six-wheel trucks on 12 August each carrying some 30-fully armed soldiers getting across the Salween and heading for Kengtung, where the Burma Armys Triangle Region Command is headquartered. The news coincided with another report that Maj-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, the regional commander, was holding council of war with area commanders in Tachilek on the next day. The target is Loikawwan, he said. And D-Day will be some time between the end of August and end of September.

S.H.A.N. has been unable to reach SSA commanders at the time of this reporting. (09:30 Thai standard time)

The last major conflict between the SSA and the Burma Army took place in 2002, when the latter retreated after sustaining heavy casualties. The former later promised to the Thai government if any future hostilities were to take place on the border, it would not be the SSA who started them.

Google Map of Thai-Burma border

Resolution at 5miles to one screen inch, can go to 200feet to about one screen inch.