One report (here) states that "a war between the Burmese Army and Mongla and Wa ceasefire groups was not going to take place."
This is "because there's no preparation" for battle - which is kind of hard to believe given that the Burmese army is reported to be constantly moving all its divisions around the region, with the addition of new divisions joining in the musical chairs game - all just waiting for the music to stop...
However, at the same time (see here) 'a Lahu militia source claimed yesterday that his unit was instructed to do everything it could to provoke the Wa soldiers to shoot first. “My boss told me that the idea is for the Burmese Army to have an excuse to attack the Wa, as it did in Kokang."'
Meanwhile, "Wa authorities also announced that if clashes occur it will take three-six months to reach Pang Sang".
Basically, a long drawn out gorilla war which the Wa are well equipped and use to...
...but then, so are the Burmese army, who have the additional advantage of owning lots of heavy military equipment.
I guess these "toys" do not come cheap - but then, there are lots of nations all wanting oil and gas and other materials...and guess what?! Burma "just" happens to have lots of oil and gas for sale to anybody who does not ask too many questions and does not follow the over-land pipelines back to where they originate from across the border, "just" in case they work out where they come from...
And next on the "for sale" list - electricity from hydroelectric dams. Again, no questions asked - don't follow the over-land power lines please...just in case you happen to come across the ethnic minority groups that have been "invited" to move out of the way of the newly formed lakes.
