United Wa State Army Chairman Bao Youxiang waves to the crowd as he exits the 30th Anniversary Peace celebrations held on April 17, 2019 in Pangkham.
Spectators celebrate 30 years of peace between the United Wa State Army and the Burmese Military on April 17th, 2019 in Pangkham.
Wa soldiers brandish hand held Chinese made surface to air missile launchers, also known as MANPADS. The United Wa State Army is the only ethnic military in Burma which has such high grade weaponry such as the MANPADS.
Chen Ni Lai (14), a Wa Police Officer, guards the main entrance to the parade grounds in Pangkham, the capitol of Wa state, one day before the 30th Peace Anniversary celebrations. One of the groups that arose from the ashes of the Communist Party of Burma, The United Wa State Army was formed in 1989 and soon after signed a Peace agreement with the Burmese Military after years of fighting under the red communist flag.
A local woman shows off her pet monkey in the streets of Pangkham. The Wa State capitol is a destination for rare animal products with many shops lining the main streets of the city.
A Wa police officer enjoys a fireworks display on the eve of the 30th Peace Anniversary Celebrations. April 17, 2019 marks 30 years of sustained peace between the United W State Army and the Burmese military.
A spectator films Wa soldiers with his phone on the day of the 30th Peace Anniversary in Pangkham.
Wa soldiers march in parade formation to mark the 30th Peace Anniversary held in the Wa State capitol, Pangkham, on April 17th, 2019.
Bao Youxiang, the defacto leader of the United Wa State Army/Party watches the 30th anniversary peace celebrations surrounded by other Wa central committee members.
A patriotic Wa spectator shows his water buffalo tattoo during the 30th Peace Anniversary celebrations in the Wa capitol, Pangkham. The Water Buffalo is the most important animal in Wa folklore which is used as a sacraficial animal to this day.
A Wa soilder holds a Chinese made Type 97A assault rifle in formation during the 30th Peace Anniversary celbrations. The Wa have the largest and most advanced weaponry of all the ethnic militaries within Burma, rivialing some of the Burmese Army’s arsenal.