Ethnic Armed Groups Prepare for War

By LAWI WENG


The soldiers form the United Wa State Army hold their weapons while standing guard at their base on China-Burmese border. (Photo: AP)

Armed ethnic groups are preparing for war with Burmese government troops after learning that the junta will launch major military offensives in their control areas after the election, according to ethnic leaders.

“We have formed special forces to prepare for guerrilla war when they [regime troops] come,” said Bee Htoo, the army chief of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP).

“It is not good to kill each other. But, the military will still rule the country after election,” said Bee Htoo.

In order to defend against major junta offensives, six armed ethnic groups have formed an alliance and agreed to help each other if a member is attacked.

The six armed ethnic groups include the Karen National Union (KNU), the Kachin Independence Organization, the New Mon State Party (NMSP), the KNPP, the Chin National Front and the United Wa State Army.

If the Burmese junta attacks one armed ethnic group, the other armed ethnic groups will launch attacks in their areas of the country, according to alliance leaders.

“We intend to set up different military front lines in the country when they [the junta] attack one of our members. That way they can’t reinforce their troops only at one place. They have to defend every corner from our attacks. This is how we will be better prepared to counter their offensives,” said Bee Htoo. “We got information that they will launch major attacks from Kachin State to Tenasserim Division.”

Burma will hold its national election on Nov. 7.

David Takapaw, the vice chairman of the KNU, said, “The election is just cosmetic. There will be no change after the election. We have to continue to attack them [the junta].”

The Mon cease-fire group, the New Mon State Party (NMSP), has ordered its troops to open fire against government troops if they enter any of their 12 control areas.

“Although we do not want to go war, we have no option because there are no rights for our ethnic people in the Constitution,” said Zay Ya, the chief of the Mon National Liberation Army, the armed wing of the NMSP.

Meanwhile, Thailand has increased border security because it fears any ethnic conflict before or after the election could lead to an increase in refugees seeking safety in Thailand, army officers told Agency France Presse.

Col. Padung Yingpaiboonsuk, a task force commander in the border province of Tak, told the AFP, “We have stepped up security checks along the border to prevent any forces or people fleeing from the other side and also to prevent people and weapons crossing the border from our side.”

He said the army would increase patrols along the border opposite Burma’s Karen State, where ethnic rebels continue to fight the government.

Some Karen sources have said that the regime will attack the Karen army on Oct. 20.

Nai Kao Rot, the former deputy army chief of the NMSP, told the Irrawaddy, “High-rank officers in Thai army came and asked me last month whether we will fight the SPDC because they have to secure the border.”

Ahead of the upcoming election, the regime has pressured armed ethnic groups to transform their armies into a border guard force under the control of Burmese officers.
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=19756