Poppies good for buddies, bad for common folks

No.01 - 12/2006
2 December 2006
Drugs
 
Poppies good for buddies, bad for common folks
 
A 4-day destruction campaign on poppy fields was launched by a 250-strong joint Wa-Burma Army force last week that had left fields under Wa protection strictly alone, report sources from Mongton, across Chaingmai.
 
About 100 acres of fields on both sides of the Mongton-BP1 (Thai-Burma Boundary Post) motor-road were slashed down by a 190-strong United Wa State Army column led by Ta Man and a 60-strong company from Nakawngmu-based Infantry Battalion, between 20-23 November.
 
One Kokang financier admitted that he had lost 1.2 million baht ($ 32,000) in the venture. Another financier Lahu militia leader Ja Pikoy was also among the losers even through he had reportedly paid the local commander 700,000 kyat ($540) plus 1 cow and 2 pigs as "sweeteners".
 
However, farmers coming from Kawng Teewee, further west, confirmed their fields that had been given greenlight earlier by the UWSA were left untouched.
 
The Burma Army units in Shan State have been ordered by the central command to wage a "no quarter" war against poppy growers this year. This had prompted the Lashio-based Northeastern Region Command to issue warning in Palaung areas that anyone found engaging in the poppy cultivation would be shot dead.
 
Despite the order, poppy fields in Namkham township under pro-junta militia leader Panghsay Kyaw Win continue to flourish, reported Palaung Youth News on 15 October.
 
S.H.A.N. correspondent Hawkeye also reported earlier that poppy cultivation in pro-junta Kachin Defense Army (KDA) controlled areas in Hsenwi and Kutkhai townships have also increased this season.