Burmese Border

WA ATTACK AN OUTRAGE, JUNTA TOLD

Troops Confront Border Outposts

The government protested strongly to the Burmese government over an attack
by Wa soldiers on an army patrol which caused the cancellation of Her
Majesty the Queen's visit to a border village in Chiang Mai's Wiang Haeng
district on Monday.

Burmese ambassador Myo Myint was summoned to the Foreign Ministry to
receive an aide memoire from permanent secretary Tej Bunnag, a move
directed by Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai.

"The Royal Thai Government condemns in the strongest terms the attack by
the United Wa State Army," the protest letter said.

UWSA soldiers intruded into Wiang Haeng district and attacked a patrol
which was clearing the way for the scheduled royal visit two hours later.

The visit by HM the Queen was cancelled on safety grounds.

Due to the timing of the attack, the government considered it "a serious
incident which constituted a grave affront to the Thai public", the letter
said.

It expressed "deepest concern" and demanded a guarantee there would be no
recurrence.

Spokesman for the ministry Ratthakit Manathat said the Burmese ambassador
pledged to convey Thailand's concern to the government in Rangoon.

The Foreign Ministry's action came amid reports of continued build-up of
UWSA forces across Wiang Haeng district yesterday.

Local military sources insisted the Burmese military junta was behind the
presence of the Wa soldiers in the area.

"UWSA would not dare posing a military challenge without backing from the
Burmese military junta," said a senior officer of Pha Mueng Task Force. The
force is in charge of border security in the upper North area of Chiang Mai
and Chiang Rai provinces.

The UWSA's attack on the calvary division patrol on Monday, which left one
soldier dead, was intentional and in apparent retaliation for the death of
Wa soldiers in an ambush last week in the same area, the officer said.

Thirteen UWSA troops were killed and 1.6 million methamphetamine tablets
seized when Wa smugglers clashed with a Pha Muang Task Force unit on March
22. One Thai soldier was killed.

The source said the seized methamphetamine pills belonged to Wei
Hsueh-kang, a leading UWSA member, and the commander of UWSA's 171th rapid
deployment division.

UWSA's reinforcements opposite Wiang Haeng belong to the same unit.

"They suffered heavily from the Third Army's ambush on the drug caravan
last week," said a senior cavalry officer.

It was quite unusual for the UWSA to open fire on Thai soldiers. Three UWSA
soldiers were killed and several injured during the clash on Monday.

Pha Muang Task Force troops were last night positioned only about 300
metres from UWSA outposts opposite Ban Paek Saem.

"The situation is quite tense and anything could happen at anytime," said
Col Chavalit Sirikij, commander of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment.

Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said Rangoon would need to put an
end to the problems caused by UWSA.

"We have brought order to our side of the border and Burma should do
likewise," Gen Chavalit said. "But I do not think the Burmese leaders have
the time right now, as they are still trying to settle internal political
turmoil. In a few days I will send a man to meet them."

A source said he planned to send Gen Vichit Yathip, an army adviser.