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NEWS - Junta's Operation Against Sh
Subject: NEWS - Junta's Operation Against Shans On the Rocks
3 October 1999
No: 10 - 3
Junta's Operation Against Shans On the Rocks
The two week long preparations to launch attacks against the Shan States
Army of Yawdserk along the Thai border was believed to have ended last
week, after troops concentrating near the border quietly withdrew,
reported
S.H.A.N sources from the border yesterday.
The projected operation, which was reported to have begun due to the
death
of a favorite officer on 29 August in Mongton Township, Mongsart
District,
appeared to have lost steam two weeks after its launching on 9
September,
said the informed sources.
One reporter from Fang informed S.H.A.N on 20 September: " There are
commands and countermands with regards to whether they should launch an
attack just because a favorite son was killed in action." ( Ref: Junta
Preparing a Big Offensive Against Shans, 21 September 1999)
A retired Shan commander commented that it was a bizarre operation that
departed from the junta's well-known modus operandi. " In the past, they
liked to bring in the non-local units, make a forced march during the
night
to the target area, and attack as soon as dawn broke," said he. " They
always tried to observe the main element for victory: surprise."
Yawdserk, asked by S.H.A.N during the closing ceremony of the leadership
training course on 1 October, said he was convinced the Burmese troops
was
not going to attack, after reading reports of Burma Army's movements for
a
few days.
Some sources believed it was only a diversion for the junta's other
units
to occupy and consolidate their positions along the projected Salween
Dam
area, which is between Mongton Township on the eastern bank and Mongpan
Township on the western.
///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
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