Fake surrender of LDF armed troops

[lndo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Fake surrender of LDF armed troops

OKKAR posted a fake story on 14 August 1999 that 15 members of LDF Lahu
armed group and 85 family members "exchanged arms for peace" and a
"ceremony was held at Nakawngmu village in Mongton township on 7 August".

It is learned that the LDF has de-activated its troop movement along the
border areas of Chiangmai and Mae Hon Song since December last year.

Burmese military leaders in Mongton-Monghsat region have reportedly been
luring Lahu living in Thailand to come to Burma and grow opium. They advise
Thai Lahu, who intend to come, to bring with them any kind of weapons
whether useful or useless and surrender themselves as if they were LDF troops.

They have assured that the Lahu people are allowed to grow opium and
produce heroin for ten additional years.  Moreover, they also encourage the
Lahu to traffick in amphetamines so that they can obtain more money easily.

Thus, it is further learned that many uneducated ethnic Lahu from northern
Thailand have already gone to Burma, including the purported "15 members of
LDF Lahu armed group and 85 family members", in the hope of doing illicit
drugs business.