What's Happening in Shan State (as

[strider@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: What's Happening in Shan State (as of 5 August, 94)


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In response to the person who asked what was happening in Shan State, the
answer appears to be, not much.  There has been a lull in the fighting
between the Burmese Army and Khun Sa's Mong Tai Army since about 25 July. 
The fighting was concentrated just west of Tachilek near the Thai/Burma
border.  There have been extremely heavy rains in Shan State in the last 
couple of weeks and the rain is the most likely reason for a decrease in 
fighting.

It isn't confirmed yet but there is a fairly reliable report that Burmese 
aircraft accidentally bombed some of their own troops in the last round 
of fighting.  This supposedly happened on or about the 25th of July.  No 
body counts available if it happened at all. It would come as no great 
surprise if they did hit someo f their own people because as one western 
military observer noted that "joint operations are difficult and the Burmese bomb high to 
avoid Surface-to-Air missiles."

Border observers expect the fighrting to start again after the rains let 
up and once the Burmese army is resuppliedl.

The Thai army sealed the border opposite Shan State on 16 July, including the
road to Khun Sa's Homong headquarters.  They also changed all the checkpoint
guards.  Both of these actions are seen as Thai government support for 
SLORC's attack on Khun Sa.  Thai authorities also siezed  a large 
quantity of war weapons along the Cambodian border which are believed to 
have been headed to Khun Sa.  The cache included surface-to-air 
missiles.  I'll post an article from the BKK Post on this later.


There is a rumour about that there is more fighting deeper in Shan State,
albeit on a smaller scale than the set piece battle near Tachilek.  Still no
details but if they surface, they'll be posted.