Wa United State Army (UWSA) now has a helicopter, but it is not for offensive purposes, said Nyi Rang, in-charge of the UWSA liaison office in Lashio.

“It is not an attack helicopter. We found Facebook posts about this. It has nothing special. It is just for luxuryt,” Nyi Rang said. 

He said the helicopter arrived at the Wa group in late 2019. 

“I don’t exactly whether it was bought or rented. But in this developing age, even civilian companies in many countries can buy helicopters. It’s not strange,” he added. 

He said the helicopter was just for pleasure flying and it was not for travel or transport purposes. 

UWSA is a powerful ethic armed organization that has yet to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). 

Under its leadership, the Federal Political Negotiation Consultative Committee (FPNCC) has been formed comprising UWSA, National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP), Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and Arakan Army (AA). All of them are non-signatories to NCA