Palaungs Declare War on Drugs

Palaungs Declare War on Drugs

According to a newsletter recently published, a Palaung ceasefire group in northern Shan State had issued a statement declaring war against poppy farming in the areas under its control. 

The Palaung State Liberation Organization, a group that has a ceasefire pact with Rangoon and is active mainly in Namhsan Township, northern Shan State, issued a statement on 29 February, announcing poppy growers "caught red handed" would be liable to stiff fines and their fields destroyed, reported the Palaung Youth Newsletter, Issue No. 2, that was published in April. 

According to the newsletter, the PSLO would do its "best to eradicate the growing of opium completely (even) without any other country's support." 

The paper also reports Burmese officers, Than Htoo from LIB 324 and Cho Win from IB 33, taxing poppy growers in Namtu, Namkham and Kutkhai townships heavily under threats of destroying the fields. 

It also reports Capt. Tin Win, Chairman of Namkham Township Peace and Development Council, exempting poppy growers from participating in the compulsory road construction on 12 March. Only villagers from Manset, who were not engaged in poppy cultivation, were instead ordered to join in the road construction, it says. 

According to the paper, Lashio has become the drug capital of the north. It also reports the current price list: