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TENSION INCREASES BETWEEN BURMESE J



Subject: TENSION INCREASES BETWEEN BURMESE JUNTA AND WA ARMY




Media Release - 23/99
March 25, 1999


TENSION INCREASES BETWEEN BURMESE JUNTA AND WA ARMY

Recent retaliatory actions between the Burmese military regime and the
United Wa State Army (UWSA) have fomented tension between the two,
according to ABSDF sources.

The troubles began on February 17 when the Burmese army detained three
high-ranking officers of the UWSA  - Deputy Commander of Division 416 Aik
Si, head of the UWSA Central Office Captain Htanat and a Captain, Nyi
Hline. The three were summoned by the Deputy Commander of the Burmese
Army's Light Infantry Battalion (LIB)-524 and the head of the Military
Intelligence Unit under the pretext of holding discussions on the use of
radio communication sets.  The Burmese Army then detained the Wa officers.

They were to be transported to LIB-524 headquarters at Mine Kai. However Wa
soldiers near Nant Tong village intercepted the Burmese army vehicles en
route. A heated argument ensued and the Burmese soldiers released the Wa
officers because they were outnumbered by the UWSA troops. An attempt later
that night by the Burmese army to recapture the Wa officers failed as the
officers had left the area.     

As a retaliatory measure on February 20, the Burmese troops conducted a
search at the UWSA headquarters in Mine Shue township. The troops searched
everyone present, confiscated from Wa families many small packets of heroin
and nine glucose bottles filled with heroin, and seized 250,000 Kyat,
supposedly proceeds of drug sales. Following the search all Wa officers
present were sent with their families to Mine Maw township in 10 Burmese
army trucks. The Burmese military has made no announcement of the drug
seizure until today.

Problems between the Burmese army and the Wa continued throughout February.
On February 27, Wa officer Lou Si from Mine Pyen township told a group of
officials from the United Nations Drug Control Program (UNDCP) in the Wa
area that their services were no longer needed in the township.  The latest
incident in the series of problems occurred on March 5 when the Wa army
demanded that a TV relay station in the area be removed and that Burmese
engineers working on a water project be recalled.        

Spokesman for the ABSDF, Aung Naing Oo, said that despite the recent
tensions he did not think the junta and the Wa would resume fighting
because it would be too costly for both sides.

"They need each other. Once they go to war, it is likely that the fragile
cease-fire agreements with other armed ethnic groups will collapse. The Wa
has the biggest army among the ethnic groups and its cease-fire agreement
with the regime has led to other pacts with the majority of ethnic groups.
Given the many difficulties the Burmese army is facing at home and abroad,
they are unlikely to take on a new battle."  


All Burma Students' Democratic Front

For more information please contact 01-253 9082, 01-654 4984