United Wa State Party/United Wa State Army (UWSP/UWSA) issued a statement on June 6 saying that they have no desire to compare with the government and the military but they will defend Myanmar side by side with them if there is any alien invasion.

At a press conference on public welfare and international peace efforts held at the Defence Services Museum in Nay Pyi Taw on June 2, a reporter asked Major General Soe Naing Oo, chairman of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team, if the military had a plan to attend the 30th peacebuilding anniversary of National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA-Mongla group) after it had failed to attend the 30th peacebuilding anniversary of Wa group.   

"We know Mongla group will hold the 30th anniversary. We have learnt that their leader will invite us. But we will consider attending it depending on their activities. Wa group marked their anniversary recently. They held a military parade boasting off their weapons. By looking at this, Wa group is trying to be a parallel government or military. This is the thing our military could bear at most," said Maj-Gen Soe Naing Oo.  

In its statement, Wa group described the remark as inappropriate saying that they could express as they like and the Wa group has no right to interfere. Wa State itself regards the military and all other ethnic armed organization as a friend, not as an enemy.

The statement said that the event on April 17 was to mark the 30th peace building anniversary Wa State and there is no desire to parallel the government and the military. Armed organizations in the country, not Wa group alone, usually hold military parades in holding important events. And there should not over-thinking over that matter, the statement pointed out.  

Side by side with the military, UWSA fought against alien aggression in 2001 and 2002 and will continue to defend the country.