Junta officials meet Wa brass again

Thursday, 01 April 2010 22:06 Phanida

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - The United Wa State Army (UWSA), which is still steadfastly refusing to transform its army into the junta controlled Border Guard Force (BGF), met Military Affairs Security (MAS) chief Lt. Gen. Ye Myint today in a bid to end the stalemate, it is learnt.
The Wa delegation led by Bao Yo Yi, Vice-Chairman of the political wing, the United Wa State Party (UWSP) met Naypyidaw's negotiating team led by Lt. Gen. Ye Myint in Tan Yang, northern Shan State today yet again.

“They (Wa) left at about 5 or 6 a.m.”, a source close to Wa said.

The junta has been desperately trying to convert the 30,000-strong force UWSA into the BGF under the direct control of the Burmese Army for about a year, but it has failed.

“The regime refused to compromise on a proposal presented by Wa so the imbroglio persists. Either side needs to compromise,” Sino-Burma border based military analyst Aung Kyaw Zaw told Mizzima.

The Wa will stick to its 9-point proposal where it wants to form two military regions namely Wan Hon and Pan Kham based on battalions in their area, he added.

The BGF makes it mandatory to have 326 personnel of which 30 officers will be from the Burmese Army.

The last meeting between Lt. Gen. Ye Myint and UWSP Chairman Bao You Chang was held in Tan Yang on 25 February this year.

Despite the junta’s attempt to convert the ceasefire groups which are struggling for self-determination rights, since 28 April last year, like UWSA, the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), Shan State Army-North (SSA-N), New Mon State Pary (NMSP) and Eastern Shan State Special Region No. 4 or Meng La group are still refusing to accept junta’s proposal. In one year, junta officials have met Wa representatives at least 10 times and the KIO at least 12 times.

Lt. Gen. Ye Myint met Vice-Chairman U San Luu of the 3,000-strong Meng La group in Keng Tung, headquarters of the Triangle Command on 28 March and told them to accept the proposal by April 28 or else they would be declared an unlawful association.