POPPY FIELDS AS FOR THE EYES COULD

[shan@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: POPPY FIELDS AS FOR THE EYES COULD SEE: EYE WITNESS: 


13 January 1999 

POPPY FIELDS AS FAR AS THE EYES COULD SEE: EYE WITNESS: 

SSA men have claimed that they saw huge poppy fields within public sight
across the border from Chiangmai. 

Interviewed recently by S.H.A.N., Lt. Ba Htun, Commander of a patrol in the
Shan States Army's Brigade 727, said: "There are huge poppy fields as far
as your eyes can see on both sides of the road from Mongton to the
Salween". All the members of the patrol that S.H.A.N. met concurred with him. 

The said fields were cultivated by hill-tribe farmers under the protection
of the Burmese Army, he said: "Else how could they have grown poppies in
plain sight? And the Burmese say they are fighting against drugs". 

Maj. Khamleng, Commander of the Khunsang Tonhoong Column, that has been
making headlines by his raids and seizures of drug factories across the
border from Maehongson to Chiangmai also agreed. "There had been 16-18
refineries before our campaign. All of them paid protection money to the
Burmese commanders. One in Mongtaw that we destroyed was only a stone's
thro from a Burmese camp. How could they have existed without knowledge and
complicity from the SPD?" 

He added: "When Khun Sa had less than 6 refineries, he was called King of
Drugs. So what do we call Khin Nyunt when he has nearly twenty refineries
just along this stretch of the border?" 

Khamleng, one of the jolliest officers that S.H.A.N. has met, must be
crazy. Or maybe others are. 

Other reports: 
The Shan States Army's bulletin reports 6 refineries being destroyed by
them during last year's campaign, 1 on 5 March 1998 in Mongkerng Township,
said to be owned jointly by militia chief Gunna and Secretary-2 General Tin
Oo. The other 5 were raided during an operation, 10-21 December. The seized
substances were put on a bonfire on 28 December and witnessed by Thai media
and local officials. The fifth of the SSA's Six Guiding Principles is Anti
Narcotics. 

The Shans also report recent clashes both along the border and inside the
Shan States. One was the battle on 4 January when the SSA "celebrated" the
Independence Day by killing 20 SPDC men in a battle in Kengkham, Kunhing
Township. 


// END \\ 
S.H.A.N.