Myanmar Spring Chronicle – November 26 Perspective
(MoeMaKa, November 27, 2024)
The UWSA and Thai Border Dispute: What is the Solution?
For Myanmar, currently embroiled in civil war, the situation is far from ordinary. Unlike the relatively peaceful periods of the past, newsworthy events have become overwhelmingly frequent. Human rights abuses, killings, arrests, and torture committed by the military regime are now daily occurrences. However, the sheer scale of incidents—dozens being arrested or killed—has turned what might have been isolated cases into major newsworthy events.
The intensity of clashes has made it difficult to categorize them merely as news items. Questions arise: where are the clashes occurring, how widespread are they, and what are the impacts? Newsworthiness is increasingly judged on the extent and nature of these incidents rather than their mere occurrence. Similarly, issues like rising prices and taxes, once considered extraordinary, are now seen as routine. Seizures of bases, disarmament, and captures of enemy troops have become common, with newsworthiness often tied to the rank of captured individuals or the scale of the events.
Amidst this backdrop, one striking recent development is the Thai military’s claim that nine UWSA (United Wa State Army) bases along the Thai border in southeastern Shan State are within Thai territory, demanding their removal by December 18. The UWSA’s main region is in northeastern Shan State, but the disputed areas lie in southeastern Shan State, near Thailand’s Mae Hong Son district. These bases are reportedly located in the Mong Ton and Mong Hsat townships bordering Thailand.
Historically, these regions were once controlled by the Mong Tai Army, led by drug lord Khun Sa. After conflicts with the Myanmar military, the area was handed over to UWSA forces in a strategic maneuver by the military regime.
The Thai military’s demand for the removal of these nine bases has been met with initial comments from the UWSA, suggesting that such border disputes require resolution at the national level, hinting at Myanmar’s central authority. However, ambiguity remains over whether they mean the military junta (SAC) or the National Unity Government (NUG), which has been operating in exile but retains control of some liberated areas.
If the SAC is the intended reference, its established relations with the Thai military may enable negotiations. Conversely, if the NUG is implied, questions arise about the NUG’s capacity and relationship with the Thai military or government to address the issue.
Historically, border disputes between Myanmar and Thailand have occurred, notably in the early 2000s over narcotics, territorial disputes, and ethnic armed groups, particularly in areas near Tachileik in eastern Shan State. Following the 2021 military coup, the Thai military has maintained a degree of engagement with the Myanmar junta, even as other nations distanced themselves.
The current situation, however, raises the question of whether the Thai military is pressuring the SAC or instead targeting the UWSA, one of the most militarily and economically powerful ethnic armed groups.
This dispute also underscores the broader issue of whether the UWSA, as a heavily armed, economically robust, and semi-autonomous entity, has the capacity to independently address border issues, challenging its perceived detachment from the central government’s authority.