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Junta Commanders Scramble for Opium

Subject: Junta Commanders Scramble for Opium Tax

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Shan Herald Agency for News

10 December 1999

No: 12 - 13

Junta Commanders Scramble for Opium Tax

Military commanders in eastern Shan State are scrambling over each other =

for tax from the poppy farmers, reported SNA from Kengtung.

"Battalion commands in Mongpiang Township in the Triangle Command are =
busy=20
collecting tax from the local farmers for the year's opium season", he=20
said. "Farmers are paying K. 4,000 per field to each battalion".

As there were four active battalions in the area, namely IB 43 =
(commanded=20
by Ltc. Aye Kyaw), LIB 332, LIB 360 and LIB 528, the farmers, most of =
whom=20
are Palaungs, paid a total sum of K. 16,000 per field.

"But, as the current price is K. 130,000 - 150,000 per viss, nobody=20
complains much", he said. "It is at least better than being forced=20
relocated or being subject to all sorts of abuses that are commonplace".

The soil in Petkang Tract in Mongpiang has long been known to be =
especially=20
suitable for poppy cultivation, and has reportedly made life easier for=20
many farmers, whose houses are now roofed with either zinc sheets or =
tiles=20
instead of thatches, commonly seen in the Shan rural areas.

Sai Kornseng, IB 43's tax collector, is often found in the poppy =
villages=20
with 5-6 of his followers.

///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 align=3Djustify><FONT color=3D#0000ff face=3DArial =
size=3D4><STRONG>Shan Herald=20
Agency for News</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3>10 December =
1999<BR><BR>No: 12 -=20
13<BR><BR><STRONG><FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4>Junta Commanders =
Scramble for Opium=20
Tax</FONT></STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3><BR>Military commanders =
in eastern=20
Shan State are scrambling over each other <BR>for tax from the poppy =
farmers,=20
reported SNA from Kengtung.<BR><BR>"Battalion commands in Mongpiang =
Township in=20
the Triangle Command are busy <BR>collecting tax from the local farmers =
for the=20
year's opium season", he <BR>said. "Farmers are paying K. 4,000 per =
field to=20
each battalion".<BR><BR>As there were four active battalions in the =
area, namely=20
IB 43 (commanded <BR>by Ltc. Aye Kyaw), LIB 332, LIB 360 and LIB 528, =
the=20
farmers, most of whom <BR>are Palaungs, paid a total sum of K. 16,000 =
per=20
field.<BR><BR>"But, as the current price is K. 130,000 - 150,000 per =
viss,=20
nobody <BR>complains much", he said. "It is at least better than being =
forced=20
<BR>relocated or being subject to all sorts of abuses that are=20
commonplace".<BR><BR>The soil in Petkang Tract in Mongpiang has long =
been known=20
to be especially <BR>suitable for poppy cultivation, and has reportedly =
made=20
life easier for <BR>many farmers, whose houses are now roofed with =
either zinc=20
sheets or tiles <BR>instead of thatches, commonly seen in the Shan rural =

areas.<BR><BR>Sai Kornseng, IB 43's tax collector, is often found in the =
poppy=20
villages <BR>with 5-6 of his followers.<BR><BR>///END\\\<BR>For further=20
information, please contact S.H.A.N. at:<BR>Shan Herald Agency for =
News.<BR>P.O.=20
Box. 15, Nonghoi P.O., 50007, Chiangmai, Thailand<BR>Ph/Fax: (053) 807=20
121<BR>e-mail: &lt;<A=20
href=3D"mailto:shan@xxxxxxxxxxxx";>shan@xxxxxxxxxxxx</A>&gt;<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. <BR></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>

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