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Burmese Troops Converging on Thai B



Subject: Burmese Troops Converging on Thai Border: 

15 September 1999 

Burmese Troops Converging on Thai Border 
Reports received by S.H.A.N. yesterday strongly indicated that Rangoon's troops
east of the Salween are moving towards a strategic mountain stronghold believed
to be under siege by the Shan States Army. 

According to the reports, the local operations command headquarters in
Monghsat, issued orders to requisition 150 porters and 20 motor vehicles on 9
September. 

When the convoy reached Mongton the next day, another batch of porters, also
numbering 150, and all the available trucks in town were requisitioned again. 

Two days later, on 12 September, junta troops were reported arriving in
Poongpakhem, only a few kilometers from BP1 (Border Pass 1), between Shan State
of Burma and Chiangmai Province of Thailand. 

One of the sources, a truck driver who escaped to Thailand, said he believed
the junta troops were going up to Loihtway, the mountain that straddled Shan
State and Thailand in order to relieve the troops besieged there by Shan States
Army's 727th Brigade. 

The unit, commanded by Maj. Ternkhurh, was reported to be active in Mongton
Township, Monghsat District. Their attack on 29 August in the area had
inflicted heavy casualties on the Burmese troops. No details were given by the
source. 

The Shan States Army is led by Yawdserk. It is also known as Shan States Army
South, to differentiate it from two other groups that bear the same designation
but have ceasefire agreements with Rangoon. 

/// END \\\ 
For further information, please contact S.H.A.N. at: 
Shan Herald Agency for News, P.O. Box. 15, Nonghoi P.O., 50007, Chiangmai,
Thailand.  
Ph/Fax: (053) 807 121. 
e-mail: <shan@xxxxxxxxxxxx> 

S.H.A.N. is a non-profit making, independent Shan media group. It is not
affiliated to any political or armed organizations.