Ceasefire Shan Army to split into two factions?
The ceasefire Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’ is likely to separate into two factions due to some of its brigades’ response to comply with Naypyidaw’s demand that requires 900-1,000 of their men to form 3 homeguard battalions without agreement by all the fighters, according to reliable sources from the Sino-Burma border.
The response was given on 22 April, the latest deadline for all ethnic groups to give their consent on the border guard force (BGF) proposal. The group’s top leader Maj-Gen Loimao with other 12 top members accepted the proposal at a meeting with Maj-Gen Aung Than Tut, Commander of the Burma Army’s Northeastern Region Command at Lashio headquarters.
The military junta was reported to have planned to hold a ceremony to honor it officially at the SSA’s Hsengkeow HQ, Hsipaw township, Shan State North, on the following day. But the plan failed as the group’s other faction did not allow the Burmese delegation to enter in areas, said a source close to the group’s leadership.
The group has reportedly yet to sign the agreement officially, he said. “It was just an oral acceptance. It appear the group is going to break up into two camps.”
The SSA-N has 3 brigades (1, 3, 7), one border force and one HQ Security Force led by Maj-Gen Loimao. He is able to give orders only to brigades 3 and 7. Its paramount leader Maj Gen Hso Ten is serving a 106 year jail sentence in Khamti.
The 1st Brigade is based in Wanhai, Kehsi township, Shan State South, under the command of Maj-Gen Parngfa; Brigade No.3 in Mongkhurh, Mongyai township, Shan State North, under the command of Maj-Gen Loimao; Brigade No.7 in Kali, Hsipaw township, Shan State North, led by Maj-Gen Gaifa.
The First Brigade is the strongest with approximately 2,500 fully armed strength and its commander Maj-Gen Parngfa is reported as a hardliner.
The faction that has refused to transform is the 1st Brigade. It is said to join hands with other ethnic ceasefire armies that still remain defiant to the BGF program: the United Wa State Army (UWSA), National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS) and Kachin Independence Army (KIA), a source said.
Maj-Gen Aung Than Tut was reported to have said that the remaining groups have also accepted the proposal on the same day with the SSA.
“No need to worry for the remaining brigade of your group, the 1st brigade. It will be following your footstep soon,” Aung Than Tut was said to have told Maj-Gen Loimao.
But the Wa, Mongla and Kachin replied that they were not aware of the commander saying so and they have yet to give their consent.
In the meantime, unconfirmed sources said that the 7th brigade’s leader Maj-Gen Gaifa is reported to be preparing to contest the general elections with the group’s former political arm, Shan State Progress Party (SSPP).
An official report from the SSA-North says the Brigade was marking the founding of the first SSA on 24 April 1964.
