Border guard change proposal discussed by armed groups

by Solomon

Tuesday, 12 May 2009 21:31

New Delhi (Mizzima) – The Burmese military junta’s proposal that the two ethnic ceasefire armed groups, the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) and United Wa State Army (UWSA) also reform their military structure along with other groups, is being discussed by the respective outfits. The KIO and UWSA said they are holding meetings among themselves to discuss reforming their armies, which the military junta had proposed in late April. An official of the UWSA, who did not wished to be named, said, “We have held discussions among ourselves last week, on how to respond to the junta. And our leaders will meet one of these days and take a final decision.” The official, however, did not reveal what the UWSA members have decided but said most members do not agree to the junta’s proposal. In late April, the ruling junta’s representatives -- Chief of the Military Affairs Security (MAS) Maj-Gen Ye Myint in Shan state met with various ceasefire armed groups including UWSA, Shan State Army (North) (SSA-N), Myanmar National Democratic Allied Army (MNDAA),  and National Democratic Allied Army (NDAA). In Kachin State, the Commander of the Northeast Command Maj-Gen Soe Win met KIO and New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K) on April 28. In a leaked secret document, a copy of which Mizzima obtained, the junta had outlined the structure for the armies of the ethnic ceasefire armed rebels. The document said all the armies of the rebels would be transformed into Border Guard Forces (BGF). According to the document, each battalion of the BGF will include 326 soldiers including 18 in the rank of officers and 308 as private soldiers. In each battalion, the presence of the Burmese Army will be three per cent, which comes to 30 for each battalion. The document, which apparently was given to leaders of the ceasefire groups, said the 30 Burmese soldiers that will be present in every battalion will serve mainly in the administration. But one out of the three officials of the rank of Major leading the battalion will be from the Burmese Army, the document said. The document also said that the BGF soldiers will be provided with salaries and other allowances same as other members of the Burmese Army, and will be allowed to base at their respective places. The BGF soldiers will also receive training from the Burmese Army during which time it will provide assistance and allowances equal to that of other Burmese soldiers. As a phase of transformation, there will be three committees formed for the smooth transition of the armies, the document said. In order to delve into the junta’s proposition and to discuss the future prospects, the KIO on Monday began a two-day top level meeting in its headquarters in Laiza, along the Sino-Burma border. KIO, which has a ceasefire agreement with the military junta since 1994, said they have completed consultations with their leaders in the armed group but will continue seeking the publics’ view before deciding on their future course of action. “We have our members meeting on May 11 and 12. From May 13 to 14 we will have a public meeting,” said a KIO member, who wished not to be identified because he is not authorized to speak to the press. “Most of the members are against the junta’s proposal. All of us did not accept it but we have not decided and the decision will be announced later,” he added. Meanwhile, a Sino-Burma border based political analyst Aung Kyaw Zaw said, the Burmese military junta’s demand is too harsh for ethnic armed groups to comply with and it will trigger more tension between them. “For decades, they have been into an armed struggle for their rights and autonomy. Changing the structure of their armies now would render meaningless their sacrifices of so many years,” said Aung Kyaw Zaw. “Reducing the strength of the army has a similar implication as surrendering, so it is not going to be possible to negotiate on this,” said Aung Kyaw Zaw. He also said the junta is unlikely to begin launching military campaigns if all the ceasefire groups unanimously reject the junta’s proposal, as they are concerned and will be preoccupied with their general election slated for 2010. However, he said the junta might not be prepared for war if all ceasefire groups reject their demand because they don’t want to upset their general election in 2010. Edited by Mungpi < Prev   Next >