Myanmar Burma: Fears of a new war between burman army and United Wa State Army along Burma-China border
Armed ethnic groups in rural Burma face a choice on Wednesday - join a government militia, or be outlawed and face possible attack. The standoff between the two sides has renewed fears of violence along the China-Burma border.
Burma’s military government keeps tight control over most of the country. But along the border with Thailand and China, armed ethnic groups are effectively in charge. The most powerful rebels are refusing to bow to the government’s pressure to join a state-run border defense force ahead of national elections later this year.