Burmese Border

TENSE STANDOFF WITH UWSA

More Troops Deployed As Wa Reinforce Bases

The United Wa State Army has reinforced four bases opposite Wiang Haeng
district of Chiang Mai, where about 300 of its troops equipped with 60mm,
81mm, and 120mm mortars were yesterday involved in a nervy confrontation
with the Third Army, according to a source.

Col Somsak Nilbancherdkul, chief-of-staff of the Pha Muang Force, denied
the deployment of soldiers, armoured vehicles and artillery to the border
area indicated plans to shell the UWSA bases.

"We simply want to be prepared for any outcome," he said. "We will fire our
artillery only in the case of a border incursion, or if mortar rounds land
on Thai soil."

A group of Wa soldiers ventured about 30 km onto Thai soil on Monday, when
they clashed with a patrol that had been sent to secure the area ahead of a
planned visit by Her Majesty the Queen.

The incident, in which one Thai soldier was killed, prompted the
cancellation of the visit and the lodging of a protest with Rangoon.

According to Lt-Gen Udomchai Ongkasing, Third Army commander, the matter
would be raised during a Regional Border Committee meeting to be held late
next month in Moulmein, Burma.

He said the incident had not affected bilateral relations, adding Monday's
attack may have been launched in retaliation for an ambush on a drugs
caravan last week, in which 13 traffickers were killed and 1.6 million
methamphetamine pills seized.

Kobsak Chutikul, deputy chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
yesterday sought clarification on the issue.

"Is it true the government is unable to protest to Rangoon simply because
the incident involved an ethnic minority group?" he asked.