The Shan State Army (SSA) has been launching guerilla-warfare on Burma Army units on the frontline.  As a result, Burmese soldiers are facing morale and disciplinary problems due to shortage of rations, reports the Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.).

The SSA troops seized a large amount of Burma Army’s supplies including rice, onions, eggplants, fish paste, partially rotted fish, dry fish and condensed milk.

The Burmese military units sent a village headman to ask for the return of their supplies, saying they had nothing to eat. It is a pathetic attempt since the fight was started by the Burmese soldiers themselves.

“We asked the village headman to tell them we were sorry, but we were also facing the same trouble because of their offensive,” an SSA officer wrote to Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.).

“We had nothing to return their rations although we want to, because those rations were already eaten up by our fighters.”

According to the latest information, six infantry battalions have been deployed at two junctions around Wanhai, the SSA HQ in Kehsi Township. Light Infantry Battalion 513 and another infantry battalion, together 179 strong at the Pakhee junction, southeast of Wanhai, according to SHAN.

Pakhee can be reached from Monghsu in the east and Mongnawng from the south, while Nampook from Mongyai in the north and Kehsi from the south. The Burma Army has been deploying several units to take security measures for the main communication roads. But so far, they have been creating different results, as the SSA, both North and South, have been carrying out traditional guerrilla tactics.

Out of 14 infantry battalions surrounding Wanhai, only three remain, referring the SSA sources SHAN reported. The supplies were unloaded at Loi Kawngmu Markkieng, between Wan Merd and Kieng Lern, eight miles and seven miles respectively west of Wanhai. Both villages are under the control of the Burma Army.

Commenting on this, Lt-Gen Yawdserk, leader of the Shan State Army (SSA) South, said, “There could be two reasons: One, the Burma Army is changing its tactical plan. Two, it is waiting for the Shan State Government to send its delegation to negotiate with Sao Pang Fa (leader of the SSA North), like they are doing in Kachin State.”

According to the SSA North’s latest report, the two sides for the first time joined forces and fought against the Burma Army in Mongnawng Sub-township of Kehsi Township, 28-30 July.

The Burma Army’s objectives with the current Zwe Man Hein maneuver against the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’ is to grab hold of the border areas between it and the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and it has been doing well in that respect, quoting a veteran Burma observer, Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.) reported in last week April.

To carry out the maneuver, Burma Army has been reactivated the 4 cut policy since the ceasefire groups dismissed the Border Guard Force program. According to the Burma observer on Sino-Burma border, the 4 cut campaign, includes: (a) Cutting and blockading of communications between rebel armed groups; (b)Embargo of people and consumer goods entering rebel territories; (c) Search and destruction of core members responsible for supply, information, funds and recruits; (d) Embargo on trade to reduce rebel revenue.

The four cuts campaign launched 1996-98 had been in vain. It caused displacement of more than 300,000 people in 1,500 villages in 11 townships in Shan State, (S.H.A.N.) said.

Meanwhile, five ethnic parties on August 3 called on the Burmese government to shape a peacemaking committee to discontinue the prevalent warfare in ethnic areas.

On April 5, the Friends of Democratic Parties bloc, an alliance of five ethnic political parties, also released a statement urging the government to hold a comprehensive “Union conference” to end armed conflicts in Burma.

On July 28, Burma’s democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi made an appeal for political talks and an urgent ceasefire between major ethnic rebel groups – Kachin Independence Organization, Karen National Union, New Mon State Party, Shan State Army – and government troops.

“National reconciliation cannot be accomplished by using military might. If stakeholders used the gun to solve out the disagreement, it will make disadvantage for all sides. To establish an authentic national unity, that will make safe the future of the Union, can only be accomplished through political dialogue,” Aung San Suu Kyi says in her open letter.

But, President Thein Sein government turns a deaf ear to the calls for ceasefire and peace.

Although the Burma Army is caught up under Shan rebels’ guerilla-warfare, its government has no idea of armistice so far. Instead, Burma army has been strengthening its troops in Shan, Kachin and Karen States planning to crack down using four-cut tactics toward the ethnic armed forces defending their self-determination.