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News In Brief
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SHAN HERALD AGENCY FOR NEWS
25 November 1999
News In Brief
No: 11 - 9
Opium Acreage
According to sources close to Rangoon junta, known as SPDC, the total =
poppy=20
area in Burma ran to more than a hundred thousand acres during the =
1998-99=20
season:
Northern Shan State 65,508 acres
Southern Shan State 32,666 acres
Eastern Shan State 3,222 acres
Kachin State 434 acres
Mandalay Division 15 acres
Total 101,845 acres
[Related News: Poppy Fields Flourish Under Junta Grace, 5 November]
----------
No: 11 - 10
A Slap In the Face for UNDCP?
The area northeast of Kengtung, from Saleu to Mongla near the Chinese=20
border, in known as Special Region No: 4, is under the sway of the New=20
Democratic Alliance Army (Eastern Shan State) of Sai Leun a.k.a Lin =
Mingxian.
According to official bulletins, three hydro power plants in Mongla, =
Saleu=20
and Mongyawng, (400 KW, 380 KW and 300 KW respectively) had been built=20
under the SPDC's Border Area Development Program, known as Bad to the=20
dissidents, with the aid from UNDP and UNDCP, at an estimated cost of K. =
150-200 millions.
Still, the villagers had to pay 50 old coins per household, (1 old coin =
=3D=20
K. 1,000 - 1,200) for the electricity poles. Besides, each household =
have=20
to pay Y. 50 (Chinese currency) per month for the electricity bills.
The ironical fact is that there is a UNDCP office in Saleu purportedly =
to=20
help the local people. "They brought up water pipes for water supply in =
the=20
villages and also a number of piglets which they distributed among us to =
raise", said one villager.
"Now they say they are going to teach us to grow mushrooms" he said,=20
sighing. "I know nobody here who has to grow mushrooms to eat. They grow =
by=20
themselves naturally around here".
"So I hope they also remember to find markets for us", he concluded.
----------
No: 11 - 11
"Mutineers" were Drug Dealers
On 22 October, S.H.A.N. reported about an attempted coup in the NDAA =
(ESS)=20
that was nipped in the bud, and that its leaders were executed.
Inside sources, however, disclaimed both specifics: Khammaw a.k.a Chepi, =
Sai Luen's Vice President, and Hsiao-jiu, Commander of Brigade 911, were =
not arrested for conspiracy against their boss and that they were still=20
alive but under custody.
"Their offense, on the contrary, was the tarnishment of Special Region =
No:=20
4's reputation as a drug-free zone", said a source, who requested =
anonymity.
"They were operating a private amphetamine press and transporting their=20
products Thailand via the Mekhong, and selling automobiles smuggled in =
from=20
Thailand in Thailand, all without the knowledge of the supreme command=20
(i.e. Saileun)".
What would have happened, had they consulted Sai Luen, who is still on =
top=20
of the Untied States' blacklist as a drug lord, beforehand?
The source regretfully refused to answer.
----------
No: 11 - 12
Young Wa Officers Beaten To Death In Pangsang
On 21 September 1999, 4 officers of the United Wa State Army, all of =
them=20
battalion commanders, were arrested and cudgeled to death by the=20
authorities, said sources who came down from Pangsang, the UWSA's =
capital.
SNA, form Kengtung, reported that only 3 of the officers' names could be =
identified: Ai Sang, 32; Ai poy, 35; and Ai Htoon, 30.
"The 4 young officers were suspected of a conspiracy against the=20
establishment for some time", said SNA. "Thus when it was informed that =
the=20
four were meeting, an armed security unit was detailed to take them. =
During=20
the arrest, one of them was said to reach for his pistol and was=20
immediately struck down. Later all of them were beaten to death at the=20
house they were found".
SNA, however, could not ascertain the identity of the house owner or =
family.
----------
No: 11 - 13
China Also Expels Burmese Illegals
Last October found Ruili, Mongmao in Shan, the bustling border town =
across=20
from Muse, Northern Shan State, forcibly deporting Burmese illegals from =
the Chinese territory.
Tens of thousands of Burmese, many of whom had stayed in Ruili, Yunnan=20
Province, for nearly ten years, were forced to repatriate after =
increasing=20
reports of theft overwhelmed the Chinese police.
"The last straw was the disappearance of 5 police motorcycles in one =
single=20
night in early October", said Haw Maohurng from Lashio.
"Since then, most Burmese have been allowed to stay only for one day, =
from=20
morning until evening, but they can go back the next day if they want =
to",=20
he added.
----------
No: 11 - 14
Paddy Fields in Central Shan State Destroyed by Flood
Maihoong reported form Central Shan State that incessant monsoons =
destroyed=20
thousands of acres of paddy fields in Laikha Township, Loilem District.
"Heavy rain fell non-stop for five days, from 27 October until 1 =
November",=20
said Maihoong. "Roads and bridges also broke down and cut off the town =
from=20
the surrounding townships for many days".
Laikha is 29 miles south of Mongkerng, 81 miles southeast of Monghsu, =
the=20
booming gem town, and 26 miles north of Panglong, where the historic =
treaty=20
between Burma and the Shan States, as it was then known, was signed in =
1947.
"Villagers are now wondering whether they are still obligated to fill =
the=20
rice quota imposed by the junta", said Maihoong. "So far the officials =
have=20
said nothing to relieve their fears".
S.H.A.N. reported on 1 November about local junta officials forcing =
farmers=20
to sell their harvest at official rate which was less than half the =
market=20
price.
[Junta Buys Rice Knockdown Prices, 1 November, S.H.A.N.]
----------
No: 11 - 15
Col. Myint Sway - New Lord or the Golden Triangle - In - Waiting?
Officers in estern Shan State, known as the Triangle Command, are =
betting=20
who will be the next commander, siad SNA from tis capital, Kengtung.
"Now that Ltc. Ko Ko Htay, who used to be chairman of the Tachilek Peace =
and Development Council, has been recalled suddenly to Rangoon on 21=20
October and replaced with Ltc. Ko Ko, it looks like Col. Myint Sway is =
the=20
most likely successor", said SNA.
Col. Myint Sway is at present serving as deputy to Brigadier General =
Thein=20
Sein, Commander of the Triangle Command. He served as the commander of =
the=20
IB 43 in Mongpiang before his promotion to the present post.
Ko Ko Htay, rich but in disgrace, reportedly used to boast, "I'm the guy =
who's provisioning the Command's Commander. There's nothing to stop me =
from=20
becoming the Commander".
However, if turned out that 28 scathing reports about him, finally did.
----------
No: 11 - 16
Soldiers Commit Offenses "To Get Out" Of The Army
SNA reported from Tachilek, the town opposite Maesai, Chiangrai, that=20
Burmese soldiers are increasingly resorting to committing offenses in =
order=20
to get themselves discharged from the Army.
"The glaring example is IB 331 in Tachilek", said SNA. "Because of the=20
inequality between the underprivileged men and the privileged officers,=20
many soldiers took to desertions in the past, but those caught were =
subject=20
to inhuman punishments such as beatings, harsh labor and long jail =
terms".
As a result, soldiers who wee unhappy with the army life, had turned to=20
wrong doings such as stealing and starting brawls with civilians and =
doing=20
their best to offend their commanders, according to SNA.
"At present, there are about 50 soldiers being held at the Tachilek =
police=20
station", he said.
"Most of them will be issued with discharge papers, unfit to serve in =
any=20
military service".
----------
No: 11 - 17
Shan People Don't Want the Salween Dam: Shan Villagers
SNA, S.H.A.N.'s reporter in eastern Shan State, reported from Kengtung,=20
that a visit to the villages in mid-October along the Salween had =
convinced=20
him people there were in great fear of the dam project.
SNA said he visited the villages on both banks of the Salween and talked =
to=20
the people there. "I was accompanied by Sai Wan, 23, from Hparnglarng, 7 =
miles west of the Takaw Bridge on the river Salween, and Sai Inn, 25, =
from=20
Sawnglak, 2 miles east of the bridge".
The villagers told them they had been worried about their future ever =
since=20
"a group of foreigners" began surveying the area early this year. The =
group=20
was believed to be members of the AAM, a consultant firm working in=20
contract for the GMS Power, a Thai engineering company. It was =
reportedly=20
escorted by a unit from the 7th Brigade, Shan State Army North, a =
ceasefire=20
group, stationed in Kali, Loilem District, "in order to avoid =
unnecessary=20
clashes with the SSA South of Yawdserk".
"In our opinion, there is no need for them to spend time and money doing =
Social Impact Assessment (SIA) or Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)=20
anymore", said a villager, "since they are going to destroy both the=20
society and the environment anyway and are not going to say sorry to us, =
let alone paying compensations for our losses".
///END\\\
For further information, please contact S.H.A.N. at:
Shan Herald Agency for News.
P.O. Box. 15, Nonghoi P.O., 50007, Chiangmai, Thailand
Ph/Fax: (053) 807 121
e-mail: <shan@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
S.H.A.N. is a non-profit making, independent Shan media group. It is not =
affiliated to any political or armed organization.=20
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D4><STRONG><EM>SHAN HERALD AGENCY FOR=20
NEWS</EM></STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3>25 November 1999<BR><BR>News In =
Brief<BR><BR>No: 11=20
- 9<BR>Opium Acreage<BR>According to sources close to Rangoon junta, =
known as=20
SPDC, the total poppy <BR>area in Burma ran to more than a hundred =
thousand=20
acres during the 1998-99 <BR>season:<BR>Northern Shan=20
State 65,508 acres<BR>Southern Shan=20
State 32,666 acres<BR>Eastern Shan=20
State 3,222 acres<BR>Kachin=20
State =
434=20
acres<BR>Mandalay Division 15=20
acres<BR>Total  =
; =20
101,845 acres<BR>[Related News: Poppy Fields Flourish Under Junta Grace, =
5=20
November]<BR><BR><BR>----------<BR><BR>No: 11 - 10<BR>A Slap In the Face =
for=20
UNDCP?<BR>The area northeast of Kengtung, from Saleu to Mongla near the =
Chinese=20
<BR>border, in known as Special Region No: 4, is under the sway of the =
New=20
<BR>Democratic Alliance Army (Eastern Shan State) of Sai Leun a.k.a Lin=20
Mingxian.<BR><BR>According to official bulletins, three hydro power =
plants in=20
Mongla, Saleu <BR>and Mongyawng, (400 KW, 380 KW and 300 KW =
respectively) had=20
been built <BR>under the SPDC's Border Area Development Program, known =
as Bad to=20
the <BR>dissidents, with the aid from UNDP and UNDCP, at an estimated =
cost of K.=20
<BR>150-200 millions.<BR><BR>Still, the villagers had to pay 50 old =
coins per=20
household, (1 old coin =3D <BR>K. 1,000 - 1,200) for the electricity =
poles.=20
Besides, each household have <BR>to pay Y. 50 (Chinese currency) per =
month for=20
the electricity bills.<BR><BR>The ironical fact is that there is a UNDCP =
office=20
in Saleu purportedly to <BR>help the local people. "They brought up =
water pipes=20
for water supply in the <BR>villages and also a number of piglets which =
they=20
distributed among us to <BR>raise", said one villager.<BR><BR>"Now they =
say they=20
are going to teach us to grow mushrooms" he said, <BR>sighing. "I know =
nobody=20
here who has to grow mushrooms to eat. They grow by <BR>themselves =
naturally=20
around here".<BR><BR>"So I hope they also remember to find markets for =
us", he=20
concluded.<BR><BR><BR>----------<BR><BR>No: 11 - 11<BR>"Mutineers" were =
Drug=20
Dealers<BR>On 22 October, S.H.A.N. reported about an attempted coup in =
the NDAA=20
(ESS) <BR>that was nipped in the bud, and that its leaders were=20
executed.<BR><BR>Inside sources, however, disclaimed both specifics: =
Khammaw=20
a.k.a Chepi, <BR>Sai Luen's Vice President, and Hsiao-jiu, Commander of =
Brigade=20
911, were <BR>not arrested for conspiracy against their boss and that =
they were=20
still <BR>alive but under custody.<BR><BR>"Their offense, on the =
contrary, was=20
the tarnishment of Special Region No: <BR>4's reputation as a drug-free =
zone",=20
said a source, who requested anonymity.<BR><BR>"They were operating a =
private=20
amphetamine press and transporting their <BR>products Thailand via the =
Mekhong,=20
and selling automobiles smuggled in from <BR>Thailand in Thailand, all =
without=20
the knowledge of the supreme command <BR>(i.e. Saileun)".<BR><BR>What =
would have=20
happened, had they consulted Sai Luen, who is still on top <BR>of the =
Untied=20
States' blacklist as a drug lord, beforehand?<BR><BR>The source =
regretfully=20
refused to answer.<BR><BR><BR>----------<BR><BR>No: 11 - 12<BR>Young Wa =
Officers=20
Beaten To Death In Pangsang<BR>On 21 September 1999, 4 officers of the =
United Wa=20
State Army, all of them <BR>battalion commanders, were arrested and =
cudgeled to=20
death by the <BR>authorities, said sources who came down from Pangsang, =
the=20
UWSA's capital.<BR><BR>SNA, form Kengtung, reported that only 3 of the =
officers'=20
names could be <BR>identified: Ai Sang, 32; Ai poy, 35; and Ai Htoon,=20
30.<BR><BR>"The 4 young officers were suspected of a conspiracy against =
the=20
<BR>establishment for some time", said SNA. "Thus when it was informed =
that the=20
<BR>four were meeting, an armed security unit was detailed to take them. =
During=20
<BR>the arrest, one of them was said to reach for his pistol and was=20
<BR>immediately struck down. Later all of them were beaten to death at =
the=20
<BR>house they were found".<BR><BR>SNA, however, could not ascertain the =
identity of the house owner or family.<BR><BR>----------<BR><BR>No: 11 - =
13<BR>China Also Expels Burmese Illegals<BR>Last October found Ruili, =
Mongmao in=20
Shan, the bustling border town across <BR>from Muse, Northern Shan =
State,=20
forcibly deporting Burmese illegals from <BR>the Chinese =
territory.<BR><BR>Tens=20
of thousands of Burmese, many of whom had stayed in Ruili, Yunnan =
<BR>Province,=20
for nearly ten years, were forced to repatriate after increasing =
<BR>reports of=20
theft overwhelmed the Chinese police.<BR><BR>"The last straw was the=20
disappearance of 5 police motorcycles in one single <BR>night in early =
October",=20
said Haw Maohurng from Lashio.<BR><BR>"Since then, most Burmese have =
been=20
allowed to stay only for one day, from <BR>morning until evening, but =
they can=20
go back the next day if they want to", <BR>he=20
added.<BR><BR><BR>----------<BR><BR>No: 11 - 14<BR>Paddy Fields in =
Central Shan=20
State Destroyed by Flood<BR>Maihoong reported form Central Shan State =
that=20
incessant monsoons destroyed <BR>thousands of acres of paddy fields in =
Laikha=20
Township, Loilem District.<BR><BR>"Heavy rain fell non-stop for five =
days, from=20
27 October until 1 November", <BR>said Maihoong. "Roads and bridges also =
broke=20
down and cut off the town from <BR>the surrounding townships for many=20
days".<BR><BR>Laikha is 29 miles south of Mongkerng, 81 miles southeast =
of=20
Monghsu, the <BR>booming gem town, and 26 miles north of Panglong, where =
the=20
historic treaty <BR>between Burma and the Shan States, as it was then =
known, was=20
signed in 1947.<BR><BR>"Villagers are now wondering whether they are =
still=20
obligated to fill the <BR>rice quota imposed by the junta", said =
Maihoong. "So=20
far the officials have <BR>said nothing to relieve their =
fears".<BR><BR>S.H.A.N.=20
reported on 1 November about local junta officials forcing farmers =
<BR>to sell=20
their harvest at official rate which was less than half the market=20
<BR>price.<BR>[Junta Buys Rice Knockdown Prices, 1 November,=20
S.H.A.N.]<BR><BR><BR>----------<BR><BR>No: 11 - 15<BR>Col. Myint Sway - =
New Lord=20
or the Golden Triangle - In - Waiting?<BR>Officers in estern Shan State, =
known=20
as the Triangle Command, are betting <BR>who will be the next commander, =
siad=20
SNA from tis capital, Kengtung.<BR><BR>"Now that Ltc. Ko Ko Htay, who =
used to be=20
chairman of the Tachilek Peace <BR>and Development Council, has been =
recalled=20
suddenly to Rangoon on 21 <BR>October and replaced with Ltc. Ko Ko, it =
looks=20
like Col. Myint Sway is the <BR>most likely successor", said =
SNA.<BR><BR>Col.=20
Myint Sway is at present serving as deputy to Brigadier General Thein =
<BR>Sein,=20
Commander of the Triangle Command. He served as the commander of the =
<BR>IB 43=20
in Mongpiang before his promotion to the present post.<BR><BR>Ko Ko =
Htay, rich=20
but in disgrace, reportedly used to boast, "I'm the guy <BR>who's =
provisioning=20
the Command's Commander. There's nothing to stop me from <BR>becoming =
the=20
Commander".<BR><BR>However, if turned out that 28 scathing reports about =
him,=20
finally did.<BR><BR><BR>----------<BR><BR>No: 11 - 16<BR>Soldiers Commit =
Offenses "To Get Out" Of The Army<BR>SNA reported from Tachilek, the =
town=20
opposite Maesai, Chiangrai, that <BR>Burmese soldiers are increasingly =
resorting=20
to committing offenses in order <BR>to get themselves discharged from =
the=20
Army.<BR><BR>"The glaring example is IB 331 in Tachilek", said SNA. =
"Because of=20
the <BR>inequality between the underprivileged men and the privileged =
officers,=20
<BR>many soldiers took to desertions in the past, but those caught were =
subject=20
<BR>to inhuman punishments such as beatings, harsh labor and long jail=20
terms".<BR><BR>As a result, soldiers who wee unhappy with the army life, =
had=20
turned to <BR>wrong doings such as stealing and starting brawls with =
civilians=20
and doing <BR>their best to offend their commanders, according to=20
SNA.<BR><BR>"At present, there are about 50 soldiers being held at the =
Tachilek=20
police <BR>station", he said.<BR><BR>"Most of them will be issued with =
discharge=20
papers, unfit to serve in any <BR>military=20
service".<BR><BR><BR>----------<BR><BR>No: 11 - 17<BR>Shan People Don't =
Want the=20
Salween Dam: Shan Villagers<BR>SNA, S.H.A.N.'s reporter in eastern Shan =
State,=20
reported from Kengtung, <BR>that a visit to the villages in mid-October =
along=20
the Salween had convinced <BR>him people there were in great fear of the =
dam=20
project.<BR><BR>SNA said he visited the villages on both banks of the =
Salween=20
and talked to <BR>the people there. "I was accompanied by Sai Wan, 23, =
from=20
Hparnglarng, 7 <BR>miles west of the Takaw Bridge on the river Salween, =
and Sai=20
Inn, 25, from <BR>Sawnglak, 2 miles east of the bridge".<BR><BR>The =
villagers=20
told them they had been worried about their future ever since <BR>"a =
group of=20
foreigners" began surveying the area early this year. The group <BR>was =
believed=20
to be members of the AAM, a consultant firm working in <BR>contract for =
the GMS=20
Power, a Thai engineering company. It was reportedly <BR>escorted by a =
unit from=20
the 7th Brigade, Shan State Army North, a ceasefire <BR>group, stationed =
in=20
Kali, Loilem District, "in order to avoid unnecessary <BR>clashes with =
the SSA=20
South of Yawdserk".<BR><BR>"In our opinion, there is no need for them to =
spend=20
time and money doing <BR>Social Impact Assessment (SIA) or Environmental =
Impact=20
Assessment (EIA) <BR>anymore", said a villager, "since they are going to =
destroy=20
both the <BR>society and the environment anyway and are not going to say =
sorry=20
to us, <BR>let alone paying compensations for our=20
losses".<BR><BR>///END\\\<BR>For further information, please contact =
S.H.A.N.=20
at:<BR>Shan Herald Agency for News.<BR>P.O. Box. 15, Nonghoi P.O., =
50007,=20
Chiangmai, Thailand<BR>Ph/Fax: (053) 807 121<BR>e-mail: <<A=20
href=3D"mailto:shan@xxxxxxxxxxxx";>shan@xxxxxxxxxxxx</A>><BR><BR>S.H.A.=
N. is a=20
non-profit making, independent Shan media group. It is not =
<BR>affiliated to any=20
political or armed organization. </FONT></DIV>
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