Shan rebels deny dealing in drugs

Shan rebels deny dealing in drugs

Drugs

The Shan State Army had not been involved in drug trafficking as suggested by some reports in the Thai media, said Lt-Col Khurh-ngern, deputy to Col Yawdserk. 

Conceding that the Thai Army's move last week against one of its bases along the border was triggered off by some 'confusing drug reports', Khurh-ngern, who is the SSA's official commander-in-chief (Yawdserk is Chairman of the SSA's political wing, Restoration Council of Shan State) told S.H.A.N. the Shans had been able to convince that Loikham (Doikham in Thai), formerly known as Loifai, opposite Chiangmai's Chiangdao district, was "clean" after Thai troops were escorted "uphill and downhill" to search the area in question. Thai TV Channel 11 reported yesterday that the location was thoroughly X-rayed. 

A Shan officer said, "The Thai army heard we had recently brought into Loikham a speed pump (machine for pumping out pills). Actually what we had taken here was a water pump." 

A social worker in the nearby district of Wianghaeng argued that it was not fair to suspect the SSA when it is surrounded by Wa, Burmese and Thai troops "everywhere". "For instance", she said, "west of Doikham is Kwang Herbin and east of it is Loihtwe (Doi Thuay in Thai) and both are Wa bases." 

Concerning other SSA bases along the border, a high-level Thai army source told S.H.A.N. yesterday he had yet to receive further instructions. Meanwhile, SSA sources also confirmed that the overall situation of their strongholds elsewhere had been "routine". 

The SSA "South" of Col Yawdserk has been named by Rangoon as Burma's major drug producer and trafficker.