Refugees in Burma's Shan State arrive in China, on August 25. (Photo: Reuters)
"The United Wa State Army (UWSA) that has joined battle with its Kokang ally against the Burma Army yesterday said a shell aimed for its mountain base near the border had overshot the mark and killed one People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldier while wounding two others."
It has been noted in the past that the UWSA is indirectly supported by the Chinese, as a large number of ethnic Wa were originally from China prior to the communist revolution many years ago.
To begin with, the conflict was restricted to the Northern part of Shan State on the Chinese border, away from Thailand, and originally did not involve the more powerful United Wa State Army.
Some reports are now indicating that the Burmese armies are preparing to engage the Wa (and others) in the Southern part, adjacent to the Thai border.
This site has useful background information on the region.
Yes the Wa are one of the biggest drug producers in the world. However even though drugs are never good, you can in some way comprehend their desperate situation to protect themselves from the Burmese armies who are not know for their humanitarian and loving attitudes towards others, especially those of different ethnic backgrounds.
Reports are also appearing that the Burmese army is forcing civilians to carry ammunitions to the front lines...
