Over the past many months, disturbing news has been emerging from across the Northern border.
If you google for "United Wa State Army" in the news section, you will see a larger number of entries indicating that all is not well.
From my understanding, there has been a 20 year ceasefire agreement between the Burmese authorities and the various minority groups in the North Eastern "Shan State" of Burma. Each group controls their own area, have their own "governments", and armies, funded by various means, including drugs.
Earlier this year, as "part" of the Burmese reforms towards "democracy", the authorities requested that each of these groups take on the roles of border police/army to free up the regular Burmese army for "other" duties. "Surprisingly", nearly all of them refused, leading to the authorities approaching the Chinese government for help. Again, "surprisingly", the Chinese government refused, stating that because of a new oil and gas pipeline currently being constructed through Shan State to supply China, they did not want to upset the locals for fear of "technical" difficulties arising with the pipelines (i.e. being "cut" by locals).
So the Burmese have given the groups various deadlines to comply, one last April, and another this autumn - probably related to the end of the monsoon/wet season, and the beginning of the 6 month dry season.
Traditionally during the monsoon/wet season, all troop "activities" stop because of movement difficulties through the mountainous region, instead concentrating on training, re-equipping, and preparation, ready for the beginning of the dry season around September/October.
(photo: Thierry Falise)
Various reports are saying that many of the residence of these affected groups, and families of the solders are fleeing the region to safety into neighbouring Thailand and China.
Thailand's borders are already overwhelms with refuges from decades of conflicts in the region, with some reports saying that over 2 million refuges already live in border camps, waiting patiently to be able to go home, or to be relocated to safe countries - some have been waiting for over 40 years.
It is sobering to us British to realise that most of the regional problems (Burma, and the troubles in Southern Thailand) are a direct or indirect result of the British government's failures post World War II to honour pre-war commitments, and just not thinking straight...
Many existing government and NGO groups already work in and around the border areas helping these refuges, being already overstretched. The prospect of a substantial increase will further tax these groups.
One group we are aware of in the region involved with relief and development is Partners - see their website for more details.
Meanwhile, keep an eye on the news...
