Old Wa lab gets new home

Old Wa lab gets new home

The Wa army's transfer of their refinery to their new regional base, in accordance with the decisions made late last month, was completed yesterday, said border sources this afternoon. 

"This is the one relocated from Mongyawn (in Monghsat township) to Hopang-Hoyawd (in Mongton township) early last year," he said. 

The new locality is in Mongjawd, 20 miles west of the Mongton-BP1 road across Chiangmai province. It had been designated early this year as the new command post for Wei Hsuehkang's 171th Military Region. 

Wei has already moved his headquarters twice lately, the first time from Monghsat's Wanhong 3 years earlier to Mongton's Hwe Aw, 20 miles north of the Thai border. 

"The movement of their HQ began soon after the attack and seizure of a rival militia group and its refinery on 30 March," added another source. 

The movement of the refinery was among the decisions taken at Nawng Payen village, north of Mongton among Wa and Burmese officials on 28 June, according to the first source. 

Other resolutions were: 

• To purchase 2,500 joy (1 joy = 1.6 kg) in Mongkang (Mongton township) and Mongpu (Mongpiang Township); 

• To suppress all rival establishments 

All sources, both Wa and Shan, have denied recent reports about Wei Hsuehkang's arrest in Lashio, the northern Shan State capital. "The Wa would be on the warpath against the Burmese (military) if it were true," commented a businessman in Tachilek who enjoys close ties with the Wa.