Yawdserk

Yawdserk: Burma's drug war an ethnic cleansing campaign in disguise

Drugs

Drug enforcement assistance for Rangoon merely serves as an accessory in its 'ethinc cleansing' plans, said Shan armed resistance leader Yawdserk in his statement issued today in response to the drug free Burma by the year 20015 project restated by the Burmese delegation at the bilateral meeting on drugs in Chiangmai, 13-14 December. 
"(It) means they are going to suppress the indigenous people on the pretext of drug eradication, as they have done several times before," said Col Yawdserk, who is also Chairman of the Restoration Council of Shan State, the Shan State Army "South"'s political wing. 

He cited the attack on Sankarng (Sanklang in Thai), opposite Maehongson Province, in 1983 as an example, where drugs and their refining paraphernalia were sent in by the Burma Army ahead of a team of foreign drug officials, who took photos and videotapes of the supposed seizure by the army afterwards. 

International assistance to Rangoon would not reach the grass root level or alleviate the miseries of the people, he warned, but only turn into arms and ammunitions against the people of Shan State and drugs would continue to flourish. 

"If Thais believe their counterparts are sincere and dance to the Burmese tune to suppress the opposition armed groups along the border, it can only create more problems and unrest," he said. 

Instead, he offered a three-point alternative: 

• Cessation of hostilities; 

• Investigation of the true situation and hardships borne by indigenous people; and 

• Cooperation with the people of Shan State. 

He also called for Shans, both at home and abroad, to present "the true situation" to the international community. 
With the opening of the dry season, the SSA, along with two other major armed groups; Karen National Union and Karenni National Progress Party, along the Thai-Burma border are being targeted for annihilation, according to border sources. 

Reliable reports also locate 4 reinforced Burma Army units: Infantry Battalions 66, 99 and 296 and Light Infantry Battalion 422 together with 240-strong Frontier Defense Force of Mahaja under Military Operations Command (MOC) #3 of Col Aung Kyaw Oo around the SSA's stronghold, Loi Tai Leng, opposite Maehongson Province. The number of the United Wa State Army, however, is still unknown, although an unconfirmed report says 2 fresh battalions from its 171st Brigade, commanded by Wei Hsuehying, had arrived recently from Mongton.