The northern three Wa divisions are currently on standby and say they expect an attack from the government army in the coming days…
- Wai Moe, “Clouds of war move over Shan State”, The Irrawaddy, 2 September 2009.
Of all of the hundreds of news reports about the recent battles in the Shan State this is one of the best. It is well worth a look for anyone hoping to piece together what has happened over the past week and what some of the likely implications are.
1 response so far ↓
1 Bamar // Sep 4, 2009 at 1:21 am
“SINO-PHOBIA”
The 20-year ceasefire status with the cease-fire groups had been left too long while the junta was busy fighting a bigger fire at its front door – its own opposition of Burmese – the students, the monks, the general public and its close call with economic catastrophe. With the opposition suppressed and political prisoners in “safe-custody”, and its new found wealth, the junta now turns to dealing with the growing influence of China in the Northern Shan States. The “Sino-phobia” (Wai Moe – Kokang Conflict Highlights Tatmadaw Xenophobia
[http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=16713#box])
of the junta is an instilled in the minds of all the Burmese. There is an inborn belief by Burmese in the prophecy which has been handed down through the centuries that said: “China oppress the Shan, the Shan gets squashed by the Chinese, and the remaining Burmans retreat to the West” – West means the western bank of the Irrawaddy. The junta’s red-carpet treatment of US Senator Jim Webb had surprised many long-time Burma watchers. The question that was asked was whether the junta was sending China a signal.
The move against groups that have strong ties with China seems now a much louder rattle. The elections next year is not the main reason behind the Kokang offences along the border with China. The junta can still postpone the elections, after all they have ignored the need for one anyway.
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