By Thai Newsroom Reporters
A DEBATABLE AREA of high terrains on the Thai-Myanmar border cannot be practically called a “no-man’s land” since Wa rebels have already occupied it, according to a retired, high-ranking government official.
Former deputy National Security Council secretary-general Pongsakorn Rodchompoo yesterday (Nov. 28) pointed out that the correct definition of a “no-man’s land” refers to any parcel of land which may be unowned and uninhabited by anyone at all and rebutted a recent comment made public by Defence Ministry spokesperson Maj.Gen. Thanathip Sawangsang that the mountainous border area currently occupied by the Wa rebels in vicinity of Pai district of Mae Hong Son in northern Thailand may be viewed as a “no-man’s land.”
Pongsakonrn contended that the army general’s word was ultimately untruthful unless those heavily-armed Wa rebels completely pulled out.
Meanwhile, the former deputy NSC chief suggested that Thailand call on China to press the 30,000-strong United Wa State Army which has extensively relied on Chinese war weapons and ammunition to withdraw from the sensitive high terrains overlooking the northern Thai border province whilst border demarcation lines between Thailand and Myanmar have yet to be drawn by authorities of both neighbouring countries.
Pongsakorn said the UWSA would not seriously listen to Nayipidaw in regard to controversy over Thai-Myanmar border areas whilst Myanmar army troops had reportedly pulled the punches in dealing with the UWSA which has strongly occupied part of Shan State.
Given a blatant, continual support from China, the UWSA is generally known as the most modern and powerful military force in the war-torn Myanmar and may even outpower Tatmadaw forces, according to the former deputy NSC chief.
Since the last few decades, the pro-China Wa State has become wealthy fast by way of manufacturing and supplying colossal volumes of drugs ranging from opium and heroin to methamphetamine smuggled by traffickers across the shared border into Thailand and destined for users in this country and elsewhere.
The former deputy NSC chief suggested that the Pheu Thai-led government adopt an unambiguous position toward the Wa State issue in relation to their drugs by manifesting that Thailand seriously means business when it comes to complete crackdowns on cross-border drug trade and taking stringent measures to see to it that the Wa-manufactured drugs, which had never been smuggled into China, be no longer slipped into Thai territory.
Pongsakorn was responding to recent comments made by Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai who had apparently downplayed concerns over news reports of Wa rebels deploying war weapons and building camps on the high terrains in the border area of Mae Hong Son though Thailand’s Third Army Region had held talks with UWSA representatives, albeit to no avail, to contain the alleged intrusion into Thai territory.
The Thai army has reportedly given the Wa rebels a 30-day time since Nov. 18 to completely pull out of the “no-man’s land” only to see a UWSA spokesman categorically dismiss such peaceful calls.
Phumtham, known as a right-hand man for de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra, concluded that local Thai villagers and Wa rebels have been living in “peaceful co-existence” since over the last two decades.
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