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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\\\
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