Shan Drug Watch 2012 english

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Shan Drug WatchNewsletter June 2012 issue 5

Political settlement: Awin-win solution for all

A publication of the Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.)



2

Foreword ........................................................................................................................ 3

Political settlement: A win-win solution for all ............................................................ 4

2011-12 opium season: More output ............................................................................ 6

More poppy destroyed, more grown ..........................................................................14

Mekong godfather run down .......................................................................................15

Burma Army makes record seizure but owner gets away ........................................16

Chemists displaced by war moving east....................................................................17

Drug use unstoppable in Shan State North ..............................................................18

SSA: Cooperation from Burma Army essential against drugs .................................18

Drug production and abuse come together ..............................................................20

Book Review: The Hunt for Khun Sa .........................................................................22

Contents



3

Foreword

Two years from now in 2014, the Burmese government’s 15-year master plan to perma-

nently eliminate drugs from Burma will be ending.

As SHAN has reported almost every year since 2003, the results since 1989, the year themaster plan was launched, have not been impressive. Take, for example, the first phase(1999-2004). 21 out of 22 townships (or 18 out of 20 by today’s count - after government reorganization of some townships) that had been targeted for opium elimination are stillgrowing opium.

But since last year, things seem to have been changing for the better:

H During his inauguration address on 30 March 2011, President Thein Sein promised“good governance,” regarded as one of the first requirements for the control of illicitdrugs

H His meeting with Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, his call for peace talks with thearmed opposition movements, his order to suspend the controversial Myitsone damproject on the Irrawaddy and the relaxation of restrictions on the media have alsohelped

H On the drug front, he has reportedly been developing a 3-year- project to bring the 15year master plan to fruition

Hence, the question: Will the remaining two years see the end to illicit drugs in Burma?

The reports contained in this year’s newsletter will, we hope, give an indication of what toexpect in the coming years.

Thanks for reading our publication.

Mysoong Kha! (All the best!)Shan Drug Watch ProgramShan Herald Agency for News26 June 2012



4

Political settlement: A win-win

solution for allWednesday, 16 May 2012 13:35 S.H.A.N.

No one is innocent in the waron drugs in Burma:

N The people because oftheir desperate need for

survival

N The rebels to buy armsfor the struggle against a

tyrannical government

N The government and itsarmed forces for en-

couraging allies to be in-volved in the drug trade tofight against the resistanceand for allowing their units tobe involved so they can feed,clothe and equip themselves

The circle becomes com-plete when greedy financierstake advantage of the state

The real kings

When Lo Hsing Han, dubbed “The king of opium” and“Asia’s most wanted criminal” was arrested, it wasclaimed “Victory over opium”. But the facts were oth-erwise. Although Lo Hsing Han’s army broke up, themerchants had as little trouble in moving to the SUA(of Khun Sa) as they had in transferring from the KMT(in the late 1960s).

Adrian Cowell, Trouble in the Golden Triangle, 2005

of affairs to invest, produceand trade in drugs.

When Khun Sa (1934-2007)still enjoyed the good gracesof the country’s ruling militarydictatorship as he was fight-ing against the Shan StateArmy (SSA) and the Commu-nist Party of Burma (CPB),the financiers had flocked tohim.

One of these tycoons wasmentioned by James Mills inThe Underground Empire(1986). While Khun Sa wasbeing dubbed a “King”, LuHsu-shui aka VichienWachirakaphan, a Thai ofChinese descendent, wasthe “King of Kings.” To him,Khun Sa was just “the ulti-

mate source of supply.”

Even Khun Sa himself ac-knowledged the fact. He oncetold a meeting held at hisHomong base: “I’m just a tax-ing king. The real traffic-kingsare others.”

But as he became more vo-cal in politics againstRangoon (then Burma’scapital), the latter retaliated bywithdrawing its support andswitching it to the Wa thatwas fighting against him.

It was small wonder most ofthe financiers left him then toinvest with the Wa, as it wassafer to work with them andthe returns were swift andhigh.



5

That was until 2005, whenthey were still fighting againstKhun Sa and, after his sur-render in 1996, against

Yawdserk’s Shan State Army(SSA) “South”. During thatyear, the United Wa StateArmy (UWSA) decided therewas no use fighting againstsomebody who was obvi-ously not a rival as Khun Sawas and withdrew theirtroops from the fight.

The Wa insubordination wascountered by seizure of aUWSA convoy escortingnearly half a ton of heroin inSeptember that year. Ta Pan,leader of the convoy andnephew of Wa supremeleader Bao Youxiang, is re-portedly still languishing in aBurmese jail.

Since then, the “license todeal” has been passed alongto the People’s Militia Forces(PMFs) that were set up bythe Burma Army to assist inits operations against therebels. As to be expected,more and more “Kings ofKings,” both native and alien,

are transferring their invest-ments to the PMFs.

Naw Kham, who was re-cently arrested in Laos andextradited to China, is oneexample. Many rememberhim as a lieutenant of KhunSa, but little is mentionedabout his tenure as PMF

leader, which was longerthan that with Khun Sa.

What has been said here isnot to blame anyone involved,especially the rebels and theBurma Army. As the Palaung

leader Ta Ai Phong says: Ev-eryone who has a gun is in-volved.

The solution therefore shouldnot be the Burma Army andceasefire armies joininghands together against thePMFs, which will only resultin financiers moving their in-

vestments to new armedgroups politically in favor withNaypyitaw.

The obvious solution shouldbe political: an agreementthat ensures both the integ-rity of the nation and the “au-tonomy in internal administra-tion” of the non-Burman eth-

nic nationalities that will putan end to strife and lawless-ness in the country.

With such a political settle-ment, there will be no needfor war and hence no needto have a huge army that has

to look after itself by anymeans available. Neither willit need to have allies who areallowed to “live by their wits”

to fight against rebels. And acountry such as this will nolonger need “Kings of Kings”and their kind of investments.

Unfortunately, the meetingbetween Naypyitaw and LoiTaileng, the headquarters ofShan State Army (SSA)“South”, did not discuss any

political settlement of theproblem.

However, whatever they aregoing to do together, I hopethey keep in mind that the ul-timate solution is political, noteradication or spectacularseizures.

Until then, we shall need toremind ourselves, as the lateShan leader and scholarChao Tzang Yawnghwe(1939-2004) once said, weare only putting out the smokeand not the fire.

Khun Sa



6

The (1999-2014) 15-year

master plan to make Burmaopium-free had targeted 51townships, 43 in Shan Statealone.

However, during the yearssince, the ruling militarycouncil has reorganizedsome of the townships inShan State (see adjacent

table).

As a result, only 39 town-ships remain out of the origi-

2011-12 opium season: More output

Former townships New townships

Muse, Mongkoe and MusePanghsai

Pangwai, Manphang, Pangwai, Napharn,Napharn, Mongmai, Mongmai andPangyang and Wiangkao Panghsang

Total 9 5

nal 43 targeted in Shan State.

The last season, 2011-12, ourresearchers were able to visit

previously unvisited town-ships to confirm that 49 outof 55 townships in Shan Statewere growing poppies.

Phase One (1999-2004) in Shan State

PART TOWNSHIP FREE NOT FREE CONTROLLED BY KNOWN DRUGLORD

North Kunggyan NF Burma Army/BGF 1006 Liu Guo Xi (Member,

National Assembly)

(13) Laokai/ F Burma Army/BGF 1006 Bai Xuoqian (Member,Laogai State Assembly)

Kunlong NF Burma Army/PMF Ho Xiaochang (Member,

People’s Assembly)

Hopang NF Burma Army/PMF

Mongyai NF Burma Army/PMF Ma Guowen (Mongha-

Mongheng PMF)

Tangyan NF Burma Army/PMF Than Win (Ethnic

Chinese businessman)

Lashio NF Burma Army/PMF Bo Mon

(Manpang PMF)Namtu NF Burma Army/PMF

Mantong NF Burma Army/PMF

Hsenwi NF Burma Army/PMF Mahtu Naw

(Kawngkha PMF)

Kutkhai NF Burma Army/PMF T.Hkun Myat

(Kutkhai PMF) also

(MP, People’s Assembly)

Myint Lwin

(Ta Moeng Ngen PMF)

Namkham NF Burma Army/PMF Kyaw Myint (PanghsayPMF; Member,

State Assembly)



7

Note: 20 townships by today’s count

Muse NF Burma Army/PMF Keng Mai (Mongpaw

PMF; Member,

State Assembly)

East (1) Mongla F NDAA (ceasefire group)

South Kunhing NF Burma Army/PMF

(6) Mongpan NF Burma Army/PMF

Langkher NF Burma Army/PMF

Hsihseng NF Burma Army/PMF

Faikhun NF Burma Army/PMF

(Pekhon)

Mong Keung NF Burma Army/PMF

Total 20 2 18


Phase Two (2004-2009) in Shan State


North Pangwai F UWSA Wei Xuegang

(4) (Commander,171st Military Region)

Napharn F UWSA

Mongmai F UWSA

Pangyang F UWSA

East (7) Mongyang NF Burma Army/PMF

Kengtung NF Burma Army/PMF

Mongyawng NF Burma Army/BGF 1009

Monghsat NF Burma Army/PMF Ja Ngoi (Punako PMF)

Mongton NF Burma Army/BGF 1007 Ja Pikoi

Mongpiang NF Burma Army/PMF

Mongkhark NF Burma Army/PMF

South Hopong NF Burma Army/PMF

(3) Mongnai NF Burma Army/PMF

Panglawng NF Burma Army/PMF

Total 14 4 10



8

Untargeted townships in Shan State

Poppy cultivation outside Shan State

Phase Three (2009-2014) in Shan State


South Kehsi NF Burma Army/PMF

(5) Monghsu NF Burma Army/PMF

Namzang NF Burma Army/PMF Mahaja (Homong PMF)

Zhuo Sang (Nayai PMF)

Sai Lu (Markkieng PMF)

Yawnghwe NF Burma Army/PMF

Laikha NF Burma Army/PMF

Total 5 - 5


North Mongmit NF Burma Army/PMF

(6) Namhsan NF Burma Army/PMF

Mabein (Manpiang) NF Burma Army/PMF

Kyawkme NF Burma Army/PMF

Nawngkhio NF Burma Army/PMF

Hsipaw NF Burma Army/PMF

South Loilem NF Burma Army/PMF

(6)Taunggyi NF Burma Army/PMFKalaw NF Burma Army/PMF

Lawkzawk NF Burma Army/PMF

Mawkmai NF Burma Army/PMF

Pindaya NF Burma Army/PMF

East Markmang (Metman) NF Burma Army/BGF 1010

(3) Tachilek NF Burma Army/BGF 1008 Yishay (Nampong PMF)

Mongphyak NF Burma Army/PMF Ja Seu Bo

(Mong Hai PMF)

Total 15 15

Since 2002, the year theShan Drug Watch programwas launched, only 1 state(Mon) and 3 regions(Rangoon, Irrawaddy andTenasserim) have not beenreported as opium produc-ers.

Among the opium growingareas, only Kachin State, likeShan State, has been grow-ing poppies since the 18thcentury, when it was intro-duced from China's Yunnanprovince. Cultivation in therest is a recent phenom-

enon, especially:

N Chin State(first reported 1977)

N Karenni/Kayah State(first reported 1995)

N Magwe Region(first reported 2002)



9

N Arakan State(first reported 2004)

N Karen State(first reported 2010)

By the year 2007, Bangla-desh was reporting destruc-tion of poppy fields in

Chittagong Hills, whichshares the border withArakan State.

Looking back, even officialnews agencies had reporteddestruction of poppy fields inthe following states and re-

gions: Shan, Kachin, Kayah,Chin, Magwe, Sagaing andMandalay.

Summing up both official andunofficial repors, there aresome 27 townships involvedin poppy cultivation:

A poppy farmer’s house in Mantong

Khamauk Taung, "Broad brimmed Bamboo Hat

Mountain," between Namtu and Mantong, reported to be leading producer of opium in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 sea- sons



10

State/Region Targeted in 15 year plan Untargeted in Remark

15 year plan

Kachin Karmaing (now in Hsaw Law ★ ★Kachin News GroupPhakant township) Chihpwe ★

● Kawli Media

Waingmaw Sumprabum ★

Moemauk Tanai ★

Moehnyin Putao ★

Ma Changbaw ★

Hpakant ★

Anjanyang ★

Nawng Mon ★ (Nawk Mong)

Khao Lam Phu ●

Kayah Loikaw Phruso ** ** OfficialDimawso Shadaw **

Chin Tonzang Tiddim *** *** Khonumthung NewsFalam Pletwa ***

Sagaing - Kalemyo ***Tamu ***

Magwe - Nge Phe **Minhla **

Karen - Myawaddy ◆ ◆Karen Information Center

Total 8 19

Even if half of these reports are true, the inescapable conclusion can be none other thanthat the current poppy eradication policy is not working.

Is it because of the wrong prescription, or worse, because of the wrong diagnosis? It is hightime the new administration finds this out.

Did the British bring poppy cultivation to Burma?

In 1889, on his way to Kengtung, which was yet to be annexed, J.G. Scott passedthrough Mong Pu On (now in Mongpiang township) and found “acres of opium culti-vation.”

Scott of Shan Hills, P.140



11



12



13



14

For each poppy season, our

intrepid researchers havebeen able to pick up one ortwo interesting catchwords orphrases.

For example, in the 2009-10season, when soldiers wereordered to go on a search-and-destroy operationagainst poppy fields, the un-

derpaid troops would say,“Now it’s time to draw ourpay from the hills.”

Next, in the 2000-11 season,which also coincided with thecampaign season for the firstelections in 50 years, themilitary proxy Union Solidar-ity and Development Party

(USDP) candidates in sev-eral townships reportedlypromised: “Vote for us andyou’ll be free to grow pop-pies”. The result was the say-ing which became acatchphrase, “The Armygets taxes (meaning drugtaxes), the Lion (the USDPlogo) gets votes.”

Not surprisingly, the last(2011-2012) season sawboth cultivation and outputeven higher than the 2010-11season, thanks to betterweather conditions, in allthree parts of Shan State(North, South and East).

More poppy destroyed, more grownThe exceptions were two

townships: Namzang, whereseveral fields were destroyedon 31 October 2011 when itwas hit by a hailstorm. Theevent prompted some farm-ers to make up for the losswith fresh cultivation. But notall could afford or find thecapital. Its neighbor Kunhingmeanwhile was still recover-

ing from the extensive use ofchemical fertilizers in thepast, resulting in low yieldsfor the third consecutive year.

All other townships haveclaimed more output. InKutkhai, Hsenwi and Lashio,one researcher reported thatthe output was as much as

the 1996-97 season when theannual yield reached itspeak. (The highest overall outputs, according to the UN,were 1,791 tons in 1993 and 1,760 tons in 1996) .

It was during the last seasonthat a field slashing team,made up of soldiers, police

and civilian officials, visited avillage in Lashio township.

Directives from Naypyitawnot to take payments andfood from the farmers appearto have had little effect on theteam, most of whom hadbeen long struggling to make

ends meet. When asked by

the farmers to be careful onlyto destroy the low yield fieldsalready chosen for the team,the team leader was reportedto have answered: “Don’tworry. We won’t be touchingany high yield fields. If one ofthem is destroyed, we'll re-turn your money.”

This should be comparedwith a report by Reuters,dated 21 February 2012, thatquoted government officialssaying they had destroyed52,252 acres of poppy fieldssince September. ButReuters also found “opiumhad been harvested fromsome poppies before they

were destroyed. And whilemore poppy is being de-stroyed, more is also beinggrown.”

Indeed, further north inHsenwi, many people werefound missing from the an-nual Lern Hsi (Fourth LunarMonth) Festival in March by

friends and relatives. Whenasked, they were told the saidpeople were busy “slitting(poppy pods) and scraping(their sap)” in the Loi Taomountain range, whereopium has long been tradi-tionally produced.



15

Naw Kham, known as theGodfather of the Golden Tri-angle, where Thailand,Burma and Laos meet, wasfinally nabbed at hismistress's home in Bokeoprovince, on Wednesdaynight, 25 April, confirmedsources in the area.

Mekong godfather run downFriday, 27 April 2012 09:52 S.H.A.N.

“The officials told them theycouldn’t let him go until hewas duly interrogated,” saidthe source.

Eight of his men also surren-dered to the Burmese au-thorities on 23 April,Myanmar Alin reported on 25April.

His capture took place fivedays after his deputy HsangKham was detained by Thailaw enforcement officers on20 April, the same day thekingdom’s anti-drug sup-pression center announced a2 million baht ($ 66,666) priceon his head, according to aformer Mong Tai Army (MTA)commander who used towork with Naw Kham beforehis (Naw Kham’s) surrenderto the Burma Army togetherwith Khun Sa in 1996.

“The Chinese, Burmese andThais all want him extraditedeach to their own country,”said a Burmese officialsource. “It's up to Laos to de-cide what it should do withhim.”

Naw Kham, a native ofMongyai (a scion of theprincely Mongyai House, ac-cording to a source), be-

came a Burma Army-run mi-litia chief in Tachilek following

his surrender.

On 10 January 2006, he be-came a fugitive after hishome was raided and “count-less numbers” of metham-phetamine were seized bythe authorities. Since then hehad taken control of thecross-border trade and ship-

ping, both legal and illegal,along the Mekong by collect-ing protection money fromthe traders.

He was believed to be behindthe killing of the 13 Chinesesailors, including two women,on the river six months ear-lier. The event had triggeredChinese law enforcementinto the Triangle that finallyled to his arrest. He was ex-tradited to China on 10 May.

Lt-Gen Yawd Serk, leader ofthe Shan State Army (SSA),however said catching NawKham would not end lawless-ness on the Mekong espe-cially in the Golden Triangle.“It began long before NawKham appeared on thescene,” he said. “All will re-member the 1967 OpiumWar which took place in thesame area. To prevent thesethings from happening, coop-eration from all those con-

The raiding party was madeup of Chinese and Laotian

officials. The Chinese hadbeen hot on his tail since thekilling of 13 sailors near theGolden Triangle on 5 Octo-ber 2011. The arrest endedhis 7 year “reign” in the area.

Villagers yesterday had pro-tested to the authorities thatthey had arrested the wrong

suspect and that he was abona fide Laotian national.

Naw Kham

To page 23



16

Burma Army makes record seizure

but owner gets awayWednesday, 15 February 2012 13:06 S.H.A.N.

Sources in Shan State Eastsay the real owner of the 8.7million yaba pills and 52.8 kgof heroin seized on Monday,13 February, has beenstrictly left alone by the mili-tary authorities.

They had instead taken intocustody Miju, an Akhawoman, whose husband AhMu had managed to slipaway, when the raiding partyled by Col Khin Maung Soe,Commander of the TachilekOperational Command, en-tered the village of Pha Khaoin Loi Taw Kham tract. Twoother suspects, Ah Ka and AhKar, also got away, accord-

ing to ASTV The ManagerOnline.

It did not mention anythingabout Ah Mae, aged around47, a former militia leaderwho is believed to be the realowner.

Sources say Ah Mae, spon-sored by a Thai in Chiangrai,has been producing yaba(methamphetamine) foryears. “He is close to mostBurmese officials in Tachilek,including Col Khin MaungSoe,” said one. “He is knownas a mobile ATM (AutomatedTeller Machine) by them.They often ask for monetary

contributions from him, eitherfor their personal or publicundertakings.”

It is however not known whyhis village was targeted bythe authorities. Thai reportshave claimed that it was theresult of a official request byThai authorities after a policeofficer was killed and anotherwounded by drug smugglerscoming from the Loi TawKham area.

“One thing’s sure,” said asource. “The order did notcome from Khin Maung Soe,but from higher authorities.”

Ah Mae’s neighbors who arealso known for their heavyinvolvement in drug produc-tion and trade have likewisebeen left untouched. Theseinclude Ja Ngoi of Punako, YiShay of Nampong and Wil-

son Moe of Loi Taw Kham,elected representative forShan State Constituency # 7,National Assembly, who isalso reportedly close to NayaiPMF.

One of the sources believedthe actual haul was much big-

The village of Pha Khao that was raided on Monday,

13 February 2012.

P h o t o : k r o b k r u a k a o 3

To page 20



17

Chemists displaced by war moving

eastFriday, 17 February 2012 11:22 S.H.A.N.

One of the unintended sideeffects of the Burma Army'soffensive against the ShanState Army (SSA) North aswell as the Shan State Army(SSA) South campaignagainst Burma Army sup-ported People’s Militia Forces(PMFs) last year was the dis-placement of refineries inShan State South as well asskilled chemists workingthere, according to sourcesfrom Shan State East.

Heroin

As a result of these chemists’re-employment with thePMFs in Shan State East, thequality of heroin there has in-creased significantly. “Weused to say Markkieng andNayai PMFs (in Namzangtownship) produced #1 qual-ity Kheptin (slippers, slang forheroin blocks) until a few

months back,” one of thebusinessmen in Monghsatsaid to SHAN. “No more. Thequality of Kheptin produced inTang Hseng (in Monghsattownship), Punako (also inMonghsat township) andNampong (Tachilek town-ship) has become just ashigh. Even the Wa recognize

the fact.”

The Burma Army, from Marchto August 2011, had launchedan offensive against the SSANorth that had refused to betransformed into a PMF. Theoffensive was reinforced byconstruction of chain fortifi-cations by the newly formedCentral Eastern RegionCommand, the 4th regionalarmy in Shan State.

The SSA South in the mean-while had been warring

cursors and paraphernaliaused in the manufacturing of#4 heroin, at the main baseof Wanpang PMF in Laikhatownship in December.

The result was the migrationof refineries and chemistsinto Shan State East, wherethe SSA is less active.

“The Wa may still be #1 whenit comes to Ice (crystal meth-amphetamine) and yaba

Heroin Produced in Markkieng People’s Militia Force area

against PMFs, particularlythose that had actively takenpart in the Burma Army’scampaigns against it. Oneoutcome was the seizure of

cooked opium, #3 heroin, pre-

(methamphetamine pills),”said another businessmancoming from Kengtung. “ButLahu PMFs have nowemerged as #1 in heroin.”



18

SSA: Cooperation from Burma Army

essential against drugsTuesday, 15 May 2012 12:51 S.H.A.N.

Drug use unstoppable in Shan State

NorthWednesday, 22 February 2012 14:25 S.H.A.N.

Residents of the town ofMong Yaw, 25 miles north-east of Lashio and its 17 sur-rounding villages, are findingit hard to prevent their youthfrom using drugs, accordingto concerned parents there.

“They are even selling yabaat school,” said a mother.“Now we can’t keep anythingof value at home unless welock it up where they can’teasily take it away and sell tobuy drugs.”

Yaba, high quality, is 4,000kyat ($ 5) per pill and yaba,low quality, is 1,700 kyat ($2.13) per pill in Mong Yaw.Among the users are womentoo.

The town has Ma Htu Naw’sKDA (Kachin Defense Army,ceasefire army turned-militia)in the north and Bo Mon’sManpang People’s MilitiaForce (PMF) in the south,both known for their heavyinvolvement in drug produc-tion and trade. It also has apolice station and a BurmaArmy unit, usually Lashio-based Infantry Battalion (IB)# 41 or 68. “The police donothing,” said a townsman,“and the army is satisfied ifthere is a civilian truck andvillagers taking turns eachday to work at the commandpost.”

One of the counter measuresgenerally used by the popu-

lace is to send their childrenaway to Thailand where it ismore difficult to buy drugs.The travel fare from MongYaw to Thailand (a distanceof about 714 km) is around300,000 kyat ($ 375).

At the same time, a largenumber of migrant workersfrom the kingdom are return-ing to Burma for the seasonalopium harvest which endsthis month. The KDA andManpang-controlled areasare known to be major opiumproducers.

Without cooperation from theBurma Army, Naypyitaw’sdrug eradication and sup-pression program will notwork, according to Lt-GenYawd Serk, leader of theShan State Army (SSA)

South.

Speaking to SHAN yesterday,he said the SSA’s seizure ofprecursors and “cooking”utensils from the WanpangPeople’s Militia Force (PMF)which were turned over tothe Burma Army had only

been given a cold shoulder

by the latter.

According to Tai Freedom,the SSA’s website, the haulat the Wanpang PMF base inLaikhai township, Shan StateSouth, included:



19

◆ 52 pails of ether◆ 57 bottles of sulphuric

acid◆ 245 bars of Saramaka

(ammonia)◆ 11 sacks of soda◆ 30 kg of # 3 heroin

◆ 9 stoves◆ Cooked opium 25 bags◆ Raw opium 1 bag

To the disappointment of mi-litia members and villagerswho had tipped off the SSA,Kaling Htoi, the PMF leaderhas been left untouched bythe military authorities. Re-

ports of his new recruitmentdrive to replenish his dwin-dling force and executions ofthose who had filed com-plaints and reports to bothauthorities and party officialshave been received bySHAN.

“Later on, Burmese narcot-

ics officials from Naypyitaw

raided the Markkieng PMF,”(in Namzang township, ShanState South) said Yawd Serk.“But they returned empty-handed, because the refineryand all the evidence had al-ready been removed after

receiving a hot tip fromNamzang authorities.”

Another surprise raid waslaunched on 13 February byTachilek authorities at PhaKhao village, Loi Tawkhamtract. Although 8.7 million pillsof methamphetamine(“yaba”) were confiscated,

the owners, who are PMFmembers, were tipped off tostage a timely getaway, ac-cording to militia sources.

“Militias have been formedunder our supervision,” ColWin Maung, then Mongtonarea commander, was re-ported as telling a militia

leader in SHAN’s Hand in

Glove: The Burma Army andthe Drug Trade in Shan State(2006). “You have been loyalto us as our eyes and ears.… Ceasefire groups aremerely enemies who havetaken a break in the fighting

against us.”

The Restoration Council ofShan State/ Shan State Army(RCSS/SSA) is planning topresent a proposal for coop-eration against drugs to thenewly set up Union-levelPeacemaking Work Com-mittee during the coming

weekend in Kengtung.

Naypyitaw’s 3-stage peaceprocess includes: Ceasefire,Development and Coopera-tion against drugs, and Po-litical dialogue leading to aPanglong-like conference.

Kaling Htoi Heroin precursors and paraphernalia seized at militia base P

h o t o : t a i f r e e d o m

P

h o t o : t a i f r e e d o m



20

Drug production and abuse come

togetherThursday, 17 May 2012 09:58 S.H.A.N.

More people are engaged inopium production and more,including women and monks,are using drugs in Shan StateNorth, according to localsources and researchers.

“On social occasions,whether religious merit-mak-

ing, wedding or funerals,where people go until late atnight or all night to help, yaba(methamphetamine) is beingoffered just as plain tea,”said a villager. “To many, it isknown as an invigorator andrefresher.”

Most of the drug abuse is in

areas under the control of

Poppy acreage

1,571 acres (2.6 acresper household)

Most of the users are agedbetween15-45. Taxes paid tothe PMF and the Burma Army(through PMFs) were: K100,000 ($ 125) per acre and10% of the harvest. The pricewas K 900,000 ($ 1,125) atthe farm gate and K1,200,000 ($ 1,500) down-town.

Earlier, they had also con-ducted a survey on theHsenwi (under KawngkhaPMF)-Lashio (underManpang PMF) townshipborder areas:

Villages 24Households 2,215Population

(6,498 m, 6,881 f) 13,379Drug users

(4,670 m, 1,468 f) 6,133(45.8%)Poppy acreage

13,322 (About 1 acre perhousehold)

The worsening drug abusesituation had led to a petitionby the monks from Muse,Namkham, Kutkhai and

Mantong to Shan State Chief

Poppy field at Lawng Mark Oh, Homong sub-township,opposite Maehongson, in December 2011.

P h o t o : S H A N

People’s Militia Forces(PMFs) set up by the BurmaArmy, reported researchers.

A survey was conducted inMarch in Kutkhai, where T.Khun Myat, Kutkhai PMFleader has been elected asa Member of Parliament.

From ten of the villages in-vestigated by researcherscame the following statistics:

Households 599Population

(2,080 m, 2,617 f) 4,697Drug users

(1,330 m, 26 f) 1,356

(28.87%)



21

Minister Sao Aung Myat on 24October 2011 to take firmaction against the trend. “Outof a 40-household village in

Mantong, the situation is sobad that only two homes re-main free from drug abuse,”they wrote.

Retail prices of drugs inthese areas:

Opium 12,000 kyat ($ 15)per kyat (16 gm)

Khakhu 3,000 kyat ($ 3,75)per packet

Yaba (high quality)

1,500 kyat ($ 1.88) per pillYaba (low quality)

1,200 kyat ($ 1.5) per pillHeroin

1,000 kyat ($ 1.25)per small straw

Heroin

3,000 kyat ($ 3.75)per big straw

On the Thai-Burmese borderin Tachilek, retail prices aremuch higher:

Yaba (Wa-made)

100 baht ($ 3.3) per pillYaba (PMF-made)

50 baht ($ 1.6) per pill

The Restoration Council ofShan State /Shan State Army(RCSS/SSA), known bymost people as SSA South,

has proposed cooperation bygovernmental agencies, thepeople, all armed move-ments and both the regionaland international communi-ties against what it calls "thedrug menace.”

ger than reported. “Alreadymilitiamen from the raiding

party are offering to sell yabaat ridiculously low prices,about 25-30 baht ($ 0.7-1.0)per pill, when others are sell-ing them for 40 baht ($ 1.3).”

From page 16

Drugs were used as a pretext to cover up the rejection of the undesirables.

Roberta Laserna,

20 (mis) conceptions on coca and cocaine (1997)

Local competition in the drugtrade is among local People'sMilitia Forces (PMFs) set upby the Burma Army, but notwith the United Wa StateArmy (UWSA), a PMF leaderwas quoted as saying. “Our

vehicles are not stopped byBurmese checkpoints, and ifstopped, not searched,” hesaid. “Only Wa vehicles arestopped and searched.”



22

Book Review: The Hunt for Khun SaMonday, 12 March 2012 11:02 S.H.A.N.

Drugs/ Book Review

The Hunt for Khun Sa: DrugLord of the Golden Triangle,Ron Felber, Trine Day LLC,www.trineday.com (2011)

The price is a bit steep forpeople like myself, 795 baht($ 26.5). But I bought it right

away when I found it amongthe book shelves at one ofBangkok’s Asia Booksstores.

It took me about 8 hours tofinish its 240 pages, togetherwith Foreword and Index.Hardly a page-turner, onemight say.

It gives you an idea of howthe Drug Enforcement Ad-ministration (DEA), particu-larly its Group 41 that hadlaunched an operation code-named Tiger Trap againstKhun Sa, worked.

The subject of the book how-ever isn’t so much Khun Sa

but the United States govern-ment that “publicly states onepolicy but through its agen-cies promotes the oppositefor geopolitical reasons.”

It is also critical of the Waron Drugs, first declared byPresident Nixon on 17 June1971. It “compromises our

Constitution, leaving our val-iantly secured rights de-graded.” It also “has been un-successful by any socialmeasure.”

One example given was LuHsu-Shui aka VichienWachirakaphan of Bangkok,known as one of the “King of

Kings”, according to The Un-derground Empire by JamesMills. The DEA had ampleevidence to take him. But inthe end its Operation Durianagainst Lu was shut down bythe CIA “to allow the Confi-dential Informant’s use in ahigh-level, sensitive nationalsecurity operation.” The Con-

fidential Informant concerned

was Lu, known by Bangkok’sChina town as Lok Sui.

Altogether, I'm glad to haveread it. But I'm also disap-pointed.

I have nothing against aperson's opinions. But MrFelber will agree a writer has

the duty to get his facts right.Unfortunately, The Hunt forKhun Sa's writer has manyof his facts wrong.

Here are some of the mostobvious ones:

❑ The writer maintains theThai attack on Ban

Hintaek, Khun Sa's formerbase, took place on 11 Sep-tember 1983 (P.7). The cor-rect date is 21 January 1981.

He also said Khun Sa was inBan Hintaek, now renamedBan Therd Thai, at that time.In fact, he had already movedacross the border, following

issuance of wanted posterswith a price on his head byBangkok.

The battle would not havetaken place, according toTherd Thai sources, had itnot been for the fact thatKhun Sa’s chief of staffFalang aka Hpalang aka

Zhang Suqian was still

Book cover: The Hunt for Khun Sa



23

stranded there. Khun Satherefore had to launch acounterattack to rescue him.

❑ The writer also saysKhun Sa rode a Bur-

mese military jeep. (P.38) Hedid not have one. What hehad were Toyota 4-wheeldrives.

❑ According to P.145, thewar against the Wa was

clearly taking place near his

headquarters Homong. Infact, the battlefield was lo-cated at least 100 miles eastof it, as the crow flies. It wouldhave taken at least a week forhis reinforcements to getthere, if they were luckyenough to escape ambushesby the Burma Army.

It also says Maj Kan Yawt(also written Gunyawd) washis second in command. Infact, Kan Yawt was a brigade

commander at the time of hismutiny in 1995 which brokethe back of Khun Sa's mightyMong Tai Army (MTA). The

second in command thenwas Kan-jet (also writtenGunjade).

❑ P.147 says Khun Sa saidhe hated the Wa. That

was one sentence he wouldnever have spoken, eitherprivately or publicly. Therewere many Wa fighters in the

MTA, some of whom wereeven his bodyguards andpersonal attendants. (It wasthe same with the United WaState Army against which hewas fighting. There wereShan fighters among themtoo.)

Of course, these mistakes

could not have been made ifhe had taken a few hours totalk with me when he cameto Chiangmai.

He used quotes from mywriting twice and also in-cluded some quotes by KhunSa which I had documented,

after improving on my pidginEnglish. But why he didn'teven bother to acknowledgeme as the source will remaina mystery, at least for thepresent.

Maybe it’s a sort of indirectwarning to me that if peoplelike me who know Khun Sa

better don’t write about him,they cannot blame others forwriting the wrong things.

So, Mr Felber, keep on writ-ing until some Shans get soangry they get hold of alaptop and start writing theirown memoirs. Which will befor the good of themselves

and also readers like us.

cerned is imperative. We, ascitizens of Shan State (westbank of the Mekong), hope allthose concerned will allow usto do our part.”

He wasn’t wrong. With NawKham and gunmen mas-querading as Naw Kham'smen no longer there, thecross border drug traffic hasbecome busier, say businesssources in the Shan StateEast.

20 April 2012 Thailand puts a price on three well

known Burmese:

N Naw Kham, aged 43: 2 million baht ($ 66,666)N Yishay, aged 66, leader of Nampong People’s Militia

Force (PMF), Tachilek township: 1 million baht($ 33,333)

N Nakhanmwe aka Saw La Bwe, leader of DemocraticKaren Buddhist Army (DKBA): 1 million baht ($

33,333)

Drug businessmen, however, question why Bangkok is do-ing nothing about financiers and government officials from

Thailand who constitute the mainstays of the drug trade.

From page 15



Previous SHAN publications on the drug trade in Shan Stateavailable at www shanland org

War on Drugs will not be successful without national reconciliation inBurma/Myanmar.

Thaksin Shinawatra,

Thailand’s Prime Minister (2001-2005), 15 October 2003

It is ridiculous that Tasmania should benefit from growing poppieswhile Laos is penalized.

Bangkok Post, 10 September 2004

June 2007 June 2009

October 2010 October 2011

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