16 : Yawdserk: Burma Army preparations could be against Thailand
War
The ongoing preparations by the Burma Army opposite Thailand’s three northernmost border provinces could be just precautionary measures taken in response to increased tension with its eastern neighbor following the shooting of a Thai Army helicopter in July, said Col Yawdserk, leader of the anti-SPDC Shan State Army (SSA) South.
His comment yesterday was in response to SHAN report Watchers forecast looming border war, 18 August 2006, describing possible Burma Army offensive against the SSA. “Beside the transfer of troops and provisions to Kengtung on 12 August, we have yet to identify any strong indicators (that it is mounting an attack against us),” he said. “On the contrary, the reports are more about increased vigilance in each military region, leading us to conclude albeit provisionally that an imminent attack is unlikely. So far, the Burma Army appears to be preparing for defense rather than an offensive.”
Meanwhile, a high level Thai Army source reported that Burma had already signed a memo on 13 July taking responsibility for the shooting of a Thai chopper 4 days earlier. “The denial by another Burmese officer was therefore unacceptable,” he said.
On 11 August, Lt-Col Zaw Moe Aye, Chairman of Tachilek district and head of the Burmese delegation at the township border level meeting in Chiangrai, said he was instructed to inform his Thai counterpart that Burma would not be responsible for any damages incurred as the Thai Army aircraft had crossed its airspace.
Individual sources from inside Shan State also reported further “irregular” activities taking place across the border:
- Lt-Gen Kyaw Win, who commands three regional armies: Lashio-based Northeastern, Taunggyi-based Eastern and Kengtung-based Triangle, made a surprise visit to Monghsat, opposite Chiangmai, where the division-sized Military Operations Command #14 is headquartered (No details are given, however).
- Urgent orders were issued on 16 August from Langkher-based Area Command and Mongpan-based Military Operations Command # 17 to purchase 100 mules each for transport in rugged terrain.
- Langkher had also ordered hilltribe villages at the nearby Kung Mao mountain range, for each to supply them with 6 woven backpacks with head-slings for porters (There are more than 30 villages in Kungmao).
- The Burma Army has been importing unusual quantities of fuel oil from Thailand (some 30 tankers yesterday at Tachilek, opposite Maesai, alone). “The reports though not conclusive necessitate increased vigilance and readiness,” concluded Yawdserk.
The latest confrontation between the two countries took place in 2002 when the Thai Army launched a war game known as Operation Surasi along the Thai-Burma border, which coincided with the Burma Army’s offensive against the SSA.
