Burma Review 2013, Aung Din (Final).pdf

The Election Commission was not able to hold elections in these townships designated as “Wa Self-
Administrative Division” in the 2010 election and the 2012 by-election, as UWSA refused to contest in
and allow holding elections in its controlled area.
It seems that UWSA will not change its demands and abandon the areas its control. Its army is now at
the strength of 30,000 permanent soldiers and 10,000 militias, well equipped, experienced and
disciplined and with modern weapons, including armored vehicles and ground-to-surface missiles.
Although it does not have a good relation with the Burmese government at this time, it doesn’t join with
other ethnic armed groups in the UNFC as well.
(Map of Wa State in Red Color, as Claimed by UWSP/A)
Shan State 32 is the largest state in Burma with area more than 60,000 square miles and nearly five
million populations. Although the Shans are major residents of the state, there are many other ethnic
groups as well. Shan State is also home to several ethnic armies, including Shan State Army (North)
(SSA-N) (also known as Shan State Progressive Party), Shan State Army (South) (SSA-S) (also known
as Restoration Council of Shan State), United Wa State Army (UWSA), National Democratic Alliance
Army (NDAA) (also known as Mong La group), Kachin Defense Army (KDA), Pa-Oh National
Liberation Organization (PNLO), Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF), Wa National Organization
(WNO), and Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), all of which want a piece of the state as their own territory
with state-level status.
Except UWSA and its major allies, Mong La Group and SSA-N, other ethnic armies in Shan State are
members of UNFC and UWSA’s unilateral declaration of “Wa State” with areas in Southern and
Northern Shan State, which cover some of the areas they belonged, is not acceptable for them.
Meanwhile, one of ethnic political parties in Burma, Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD),
led by prominent Shan leader and former political prisoner Hkun Htun Oo 33 , has been working to
organize an “All Shan State Conference”, scheduled in April 2013, with participation of all Shan state-
32 Shan State, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shan_State
33 Khun Htun Oo, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khun_Htun_Oo
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