Armed Resistance Escalates, Myanmar Military Regime Visits UWSA's Strongest Armed Ethnicity

Soldiers of the armed ethnic group UWSA. (Wikimedia Commons/Steve Sandford)

JAKARTA - The persistent and escalating resistance shown by armed ethnic groups has troubled Myanmar's military regime as the number of its security forces killed continues to grow.

A total of 32 Myanmar military security forces were killed at the end of last week, following deadly attacks carried out by Myanmar police and army on Friday, April 9.

At least 14 Myanmar police officers were killed and two missing following coordinated attacks by armed ethnic groups at a police post in Lashio Township, northern Shan State Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, at least 18 Myanmar security forces were killed in an attack in Tamu, Wilayag Sagaing, on the Myanmar - India border Saturday afternoon, after a civilian was shot dead there.

Before the attacks on Saturday, kachin Independence State (KIA) and Karen National Union (KNU), launched a series of attacks on regime forces in Kachin state, Shan and Bago regions, in reaction to the killing of Myanmar's military antiquities civilians.

Myanmar's military regime, aware of the increased resistance, is trying to partner with the armed ethnic groups of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP), the political wing of the Shan State Army (SSA).

Unabashedly, Myanmar's military regime sent envoys led by Lieutenant General Yar Pyae and Lieutenant General Aung Zaw Aye, commander of Special Operations Bureau No. 2 to visit both armed ethnic groups. Visiting The Irrawaddy on Monday, April 12, the visit is believed to seek support while explaining the February 1 coup.

Caption

The UWSA is one of 18 armed ethnic groups in Myanmar. Billed as the strongest, the UWSA signed a ceasefire with the government in 1989.

This ethnicity has not budged despite the growing death toll of civilians from Myanmar's military coup. Meanwhile, 10 armed ethnic signatories to the 2015 national ceasefire (NCA) condemned Myanmar's military coup.

U Nyi Rang, a spokesman for the UWSA, said he did not participate in the meeting and was unable to provide details about it.

"As far as I know, they explained why the coup happened," he said.

Asked if the UWSA recognised the regime as myanmar's government, a Wa spokesman said simply: "We have a longstanding good relationship (with the military),".

However, for all the longstanding good relations with the military, Wa Bao leader Yu Xiang sent a congratulatory message to Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy late last year after her electoral victory.

Meanwhile, on April 8, while en route to the SSPP headquarters in Wan Hai by helicopter, myanmar's military regime group was attacked by members of the Shan armed group, causing an official inside to be wounded.

A spokesman for the SSPP armed group confirmed the trip and attack on the helicopter.

"Some troops on the ground accidentally shot him, sending them back to Lashio," Major Sai Phone Han said.

However, the regime claimed in a press conference on Friday that peace discussions between the military and the SSPP remained ongoing.

"They acknowledged the shooting. But we can have peace discussions. I have to say it worked," said Myanmar Military Regime Spokesman Brig. Gen. Zaw Min Tun.

Myanmar coup. Voi's editor continues to monitor the political situation in one of asean's member countries. Civilian casualties continue to fall. Readers can follow the news about Myanmar's military coup by tapping this link.