Surprise shelling laced with intermittent machine gun fire yesterday caught the Shan State Army (SSA) South unit and the Thai security forces stationed on the Chiangmai border off guard, according to sources.
Surprise shelling laced with intermittent machine gun fire yesterday caught the Shan State Army (SSA) South unit and the Thai security forces stationed on the Chiangmai border off guard, according to sources.
"It wasn't the attack itself, but rather the absence of any indication either before or since the shootings that has left us wondering," said an SSA senior officer. "No unusual troop movements have been reported".
Shan troops, he added, have nevertheless been put on high alert.
According to him and Thai security sources, the SSA base at Loi Maiyommen, opposite Chiangmai's Wiang Haeng district, was pounded with three 81-mm mortar shells at 15:45 yesterday, by the Tachilek-based Light Infantry Battalion 331 currently in the area. It was followed by four more shells at 20:15 interspersed with machine gun fire.
One shell reportedly landed inside Thai territory but no damage or casualty was reported. The SSA troops from Surkhanfah Column, commanded by Maj Kawsanla, did not retaliate but were merely ordered to take up positions against any eventuality, "which has so far not materialized", said the source.
Yesterday's shootings came more than a month after the Burma Army launched a 15-day search-and-destroy operation in eastern Shan State, opposite Chiangmai and Chiangrai provinces from September 16 to 30.
"It wasn't the attack itself, but rather the absence of any indication either before or since the shootings that has left us wondering," said an SSA senior officer. "No unusual troop movements have been reported".
Shan troops, he added, have nevertheless been put on high alert.
According to him and Thai security sources, the SSA base at Loi Maiyommen, opposite Chiangmai's Wiang Haeng district, was pounded with three 81-mm mortar shells at 15:45 yesterday, by the Tachilek-based Light Infantry Battalion 331 currently in the area. It was followed by four more shells at 20:15 interspersed with machine gun fire.
One shell reportedly landed inside Thai territory but no damage or casualty was reported. The SSA troops from Surkhanfah Column, commanded by Maj Kawsanla, did not retaliate but were merely ordered to take up positions against any eventuality, "which has so far not materialized", said the source.
Yesterday's shootings came more than a month after the Burma Army launched a 15-day search-and-destroy operation in eastern Shan State, opposite Chiangmai and Chiangrai provinces from September 16 to 30.
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