Politics

According to a commander of a ceasefire group in northern Shan State, representatives of nine groups that had concluded truce pacts with Rangoon spent time listening to the deputy military intelligence chief's re-telling of the 30 May incident instead of discussing issues during the meeting on Saturday, 16 August.

"At first", said the commander, "many of the representatives had been keyed up for a scolding from Gen Khin Nyunt about their 1 July joint statement. However, they were instead received by Maj Gen Kyaw Win, who never mentioned a word about the statement throughout his narration".

The commander said everyone "harked" politely "at the bedtime story" that "placed the blame squarely" on the National League for Democracy for the whole affair. The representatives were informed afterwards that if they could wait for a few more days, Gen Khin Nyunt might make himself available. "No date was fixed," the commander told S.H.A.N..

He assumed that Burma's No.3 man must be busy with Vice Senior Gen Maung Aye's upcoming trip to Beijing. (Gen Maung Aye reportedly departed for China yesterday.)

"The generals are said to be worried by the Chinese troop deployment along the border," he said, "and think that the CPB (Communist Party of Burma) and the ceasefire armies will be re-armed for another uprising against Rangoon. I certainly don't know how they worked out that conclusion. But that's why they are in such a hurry."

The commander said he had also talked to Li Ziru, the United Wa State Army's chief-of-staff, who assured him that the Wa were following the events closely. "He however thought the resumption of fighting could only result as a last resort for Rangoon," he said.

All sources agreed that the Wa were holding a crisis meeting, although details are yet to be disclosed. Unconfirmed reports also spoke of 100-odd MiG fighters in Kunming, Yunnan's capital.

Meanwhile, a Thai border watcher reported Rangoon's recent instructions to its military intelligence units to find out whether there were increased activities in their respective areas by the CPB's underground cells.

The New Light of Myanmar, the military's organ, also reported a meeting on 28 July between generals Maung Aye and Khin Nyunt and Col Michael Norton, US military attache.

Seven ceasefire groups: Kachin Independence Organization, Kayan Newland Party, Karenni Nationalities People's Liberation Front, Palaung State Liberation Army, New Mon State Party, Shan State Peace Council and Shan State Nationalities People's Liberation Organization, had, on 1 July, issued a statement "regretting" the 30 May massacre and demanding a tripartite dialogue.