Burmese Army Mobilizes near Chinese Border

The Burmese military government has mobilized hundreds of soldiers into areas near the Sino-Burmese border controlled by armed ethnic groups, including the United Wa State Army (USDA), the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), the Shan State Army (SSA-North) and the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

The move comes at a time when junta supremo Snr-Gen Than Shwe is on a five-day trip to China.

Sources from Burma's northeastern ethnic areas said that the Tatmadaw, or Burmese government forces, have reinforced their troops around the region where a lengthy dispute has continued between Naypyidaw and the ethnic armies over transformation of the ethnic cease-fire groups' battalions into border guard force (BGF) units under the command of the Tatmadaw.

“In past five days, we have learned that more troops have been mobilized near Wa territory in northern Shan State,” a source close to the UWSA told The Irrawaddy on Monday. “Tensions mounted on Friday as several Tatmadaw battalions  surrounded UWSA troops while they [the Wa] were on patrol. About 15 army trucks were involved in the incident.”

Last week, Naypyidaw ordered all government and NGO staff to leave UWSA and NDAA areas in Shan State where about 40 unarmed military officials were stationed. The officials had been stationed in the area since former Communist forces signed a cease-fire agreement with the Burmese junta in 1989.

Ethnic sources said the withdrawal could signal the junta’s intention to attack the ethnic armies after a deadline to join the BGF passed on Sept. 1.
Burmese government forces also mobilized into areas close to SSA-North bases, particularly near the group's Brigade 1 base, putting fresh pressure on the cease-fire group to join the BGF ahead of the election on Nov. 7.

“Unusual troops mobilizations were reported in Tangyang [near Wa territory], Mong Ya and Mong Hsnu,” said Saengjuen Sarawin, an editor with The Shan Herald Agency for News. “The troops are from two newly deployed battalions under Military Operations Command 1 and 2.”

Commenting on a potential offensive with the ethnic groups, he said the Tatmadaw might not send in a massive number of troops as it did in the 1970s and 80s, but that they will be prepared with more strategic weapons such as artillery and rocket launchers.

Meanwhile, China has tightened security along the Sino-Burmese border near Mong La and set up surveillance across the border. However, traders report that it is still a case of “business as usual,” sources said.

Apart from the Burmese army mobilization in Shan State, KIO sources in Laiza, the headquarters of the Kachin group, said Tatmadaw maneuvers had been reported near the KIO-controlled area.

Sources said the KIO maintained that there will be no polling stations allowed in KIO territory for the election. 
“The KIO will arrange transportation if voters want to leave to vote in the election,” a KIO source said. “But we won’t allow polling stations in our area while the [BGF] dispute is ongoing.”

The KIO, the UWSA, the NDAA and the SSA-North are yet to confirm whether they will permit elections in their areas. Naypyidaw has not sent election officials to the areas in question although Lt-Gen Ye Myint, the former chief of the Military Affairs Security, told the groups in August that all ethnic groups would be expected to cooperate with election officials when they arrived in early September.

Sources said that ethnic leaders are watching closely as to how relations develop as a result of Than Shwe's visit to China.

Beijing has played a mediating role between Naypyidaw and the ethnic groups, many of which are historically close to China.

Publicly or privately, Chinese officials have said that stability and development along the border is vital and they do not wish to see a resumption of hostilities as in August 2009 when some 37,000 Kokang- Chinese refugees fled to China to avoid conflict.