THE JUNTA ARE THE ONES WHO ARE GUILTY OF

PROMOTING THE DRUG TRADE

The Junta's Anti-Drug Campaign is just a white-wash to cover their own misdeeds and an excuse to promote genocide of Ethnic people.  The Junta themselves have been heavily involved in the drug trade all along.  In fact, they are totally in control of all the drugs and all the dealers in Burma.  The local SPDC officers impose a drugs' "Tax" on all the activities associated with the trade. They blame the Shan State Army, but the Shan State Army has been against the drug trade since 1998 when their Anti-Drug Campaign was set up.

As the report from S.H.A.N. explained: _  

Shan State Army Waging War on Drugs 

A booklet released by the Shan State Army of Yawdserk reports on the Shans' anti-drug campaign since November 1998. 

The SSA, with its declared policy against drugs, gave full details on its activities, 8 November 1998 - 21 September 2000, in its pamphlet: The policy and objectives of the Restoration Council of Shan State, copies of which were distributed at the "Graduation Ceremony" held on 15 November. 

According to the pamphlet, the SSA, during its 14 attacks, had destroyed 7 refineries together with their paraphernalia and chemicals. They also captured 11.6 kg of heroin and over 1 million amphetamine pills and killed 8 SPDC soldiers guarding the drugs. 

The report, however, did not include the latest raid on 10 November that netted 626,000 amphetamine tablets and 41 kgs of heroin, according to the SSA News.

There are also other proofs that Shan State Army is against the drug trade, as this report from S.H.A.N. stated: _

Hilltribes Blame Shan Army For Destruction of Poppy Fields

Hilltribes along the Thai border are expressing their displeasure with the Shan resistance for its forcible destruction of their poppy fields, said S.H.A.N. reporter, who just returned from his trip to Maehongson. 

Several hilltribesmem, mostly Lahus form Pangmapha District, complained to S.H.A.N. that units from the Shan State Army's Khunsang Tonhoong Column, commanded by Maj. Khamleng a.k.a Sai Chit, had been patrolling along Thai-Shan border and destroying poppy fields. "A difficult man to deal with, no amount of good words or money would change his one-track mind", said one from Soppawng. 

"The Burmese Army, in contrast, is easier to deal with", another from Ban Ela agreed. "Instead of destroying our fields, they even encourage us to grow and to set up refineries. The only condition is that we pay tax to them". 

Another hilltribesman from Ban Hueypim also said, "Thailand and Burma have governments recognized by the world, and yet they know when and where to close their eyes off.  The Shans are still fighting for freedom and they need our support. But why are they trying to alienate us by knocking off our pots and pans (meaning their poppy fields)?" 

The source from Soppawng told S.H.A.N. that opium along the border is of a higher grade. "With those from across the Salween, you may need 5-10 viss to refine it into 1 kg of heroin", he said. "Here you will need not more than 4 viss to make 1 kg (of heroin)". 

One of the Shan State Army's Guiding Principles is Anti-Narcotics. According to one of its statements, the SSA has been putting the principle into practice since last year, with the capture of a laboratory, allegedly belonging to Gen Tin Oo, Secretary-2 of the SPDC. 

Regarding further proof of the SPDC’s involvement in the drug trade, please read http://www.shanland.org/articles/drugs

Farmers exultant over alien poppy strain 

Poppy seeds believed to be of Indian strain have been making a strong showing, say sources from the border.

One of the farmers, a 53-year old northern Shan of Loi Khilek range, Mongton township, opposite Chiangmai, told S.H.A.N., "Everyone here who had bought the seeds are jubilant. Just look at my field. One part of it was sown with the indigenous seeds, 3 milk-cans of them, and the other with the new seeds, just 2 milk-canfuls."

The comparative results were simply astounding, he exclaimed: While the "indigenous part" had yielded two and a half viss (1 viss = 1.6 kg) leaving the pods shrunk and dry, the "foreign part" is giving him four and a half viss and the pods are still producing sap.

The seeds were sold by Captain Han Sein of Infantry Battalion 65, who retired on 4 December at 100 kyat ($ 0.10) per condensed milkcan, last August, which the villagers say was twice as much as the price of the indigenous strain.

Already Kokang businessmen in the area have offered to buy the season's harvest for 20,000 baht ($ 500). Last year, it was 350,000 kyat ($350).

The price hike appears to be the trend elsewhere as well. In southern Shan State, across the Salween, it is 390,000 - 400,000 kyat ($390-400), while in the north, it is between 800,000 - 1,000,000 kyat ($ 800 - 1,000).

Poppy Diary 

2006-03-09     Anti-drug officers torture suspect to death

2006-03-08     Fields destroyed by ceasefire group

2006-03-03     SSA-South challenges drug involvement claim

2004-12-09     Army complimented by poppy farmers

2004-09-27     Officers peddle poppy seeds

2000-12-13     Junta Commander provides opium subsidy.

2000-06-18     Poppy Acreage To Be Increased Under Junta Direction 

FERAYA NANGMONE

Your Comments here_

If you have evidences of genocide committed by military regime please contact burmadigest@tayzathuria.org.uk