[Tee tiong huat]

Wa Army Shows How to Succeed in Fight Against Myanmar Junta, junta forced ethnic armed organization signed a ceasefire to transform into Border Guard under Army-drafted 2008 Constitution, So junta now launched attacks National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) and Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) after they opposed its proposal. However, it shied away from attacking two holdouts – the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and its territorial neighbor, (NDAA) regime would have had to attack both groups simultaneously, risking southern & northern Shan State west of Salween River no guaranteed even if it deployed all 10 of its divisions. Moreover junta chief Than Shwe & his deputy Maung Aye were preparing for a power transfer decided against attacking UWSA.

Thein Sein’s quasi-civilian govt also hit snags in peace negotiations with the UWSA. Tensions built up in 2009-2010 were eased when a Union-level ceasefire was signed on Dec 25, 2011. UWSA signed truce but unnecessary, having already signed a ceasefire with the previous regime in 1989. In 2015, President Thein Sein visited Shan State’s Kengtung to urge UWSA & NDAA leaders to sign Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, but to no avail. Around 3,000 UWSA troops with 100 vehicles, heavy weapons crossed Salween River to southern Shan State in May 2021, the UWSA was helping its ally, the SSPP, to fight its rival, Restoration Council of Shan State fight ended March, as UWSA troops were still deployed alongside SSPP troops on Mount Mo Shan in April this year.

UWSA provided training, supplies, healthcare & anti-regime ethnic Brotherhood Alliance Ops 1027. So alliance handed two towns seized during ops Hopang & Panlong east of Salween River, transfer 2 towns expanded Wa Self-Admin east of Salween River  border with China, then alliance member, Ta’ang Nat Liberation Army (TNLA), ,also reportedly handed over Mong Kyet, Karmein & Teintan west of Salween River to UWSA. Junta raised no objections so UWSA troops crossed west of Salween. On first occasion, junta handed SSPP an ultimatum to withdraw end of Mar-2022, bolstered by UWSA troops, 100 vehicles of UWSA troops crossed river southern Shan State on Jun-5 reinforcements swelled UWSA force to around 5,000. 
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/wa-army-s...junta.html