Wa subservient after Rangoon keeps mum on major drug haul

Wa subservient after Rangoon keeps mum on major drug haul

Rangoon had exacted a heavy price from the Wa chieftain, after his followers were unmasked as party to a the consignment of of heroin recently seized in China, wrote Nay Lin, a reporter for the independent Burmese paper, New Era, June issue. 

At a meeting on 21 April at Panghsang's Minzin Hotel, where Rangoon's Col San Pwint had China's two top drug busters, Mr. "Chain Ho Shwin" and Mr. "Thein Min", were present, Pao Yuqiang, the supreme Wa leader, had pleaded to keep the under wraps the details of theWa connection in the transfer of 354.15 kg of heroin seized in Guangdong Province on 5 April that had led to the arrest of 13 men and 1 woman in Panghsang. The New Light of Myanmar, 26 April issue, hailed the event as the result of Chinese and Burmese cooperation that busted the drug gang led by a "Wan Kyu Kwan" from Hong Kong. 

The drugs were hidden in logs exported through Panghsang, where holes were drilled inside the logs each 3 inches in diameter and 3 feet long to stuff the drugs inside, according to the paper. 

The event followed the disclosure in Bangkok Post, 18 March issue, of the American government's designation of the United Wa State Army as a terrorist group. 

"It's no wonder we failed to convince Panghsang of the senselessness of its decision to join Rangoon's dirty war against us," commented a Shan State Army officer after reading Nay Lin's report. 

A border security officer, however, remarked: "Apart from this, the Wa have also made huge investments in Burma that Rangoon can seize if they ever try to displease the generals." 

The Shan State Army of Col Yawdserk that has three major strongholds along the Thai border has been under attack from the combined Burmese-Wa forces since the beginning of June.