'Friend' Confirms Khun Sa Granted Permission To Visit Homong

'Friend' Confirms Khun Sa Granted Permission To Visit Homong

One of Drug lord Khun Sa's close associates confirmed recently that his boss was indeed allowed to visit his old stamping ground of Homong again. 

The associate, who requested anonymity, told S.H.A.N. on 5 March that Khun Sa, who has been suffering from paralysis for some time, was granted permission after his insistent requests to Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council. 

"He asked Gen. Khin Nyunt either to allow him to spend his remaining life in Homong or a short visit to improve both his physical and spiritual conditions," he said. "After some deliberations, it was decided that he deserved a brief vacation there." 

Burma's strong man reportedly instructed authorities in Homong to repair his house in Mongmai (3 kilometers south of Homong) during his stopover there on 22 February. 

"His right arm and leg are shaking all the time," he said. "And since mid-February, his tongue has become so stiff his speech is almost unintelligible." 

The source, however, could not say how soon his arrival in Homong would be. "Perhaps on the eve of Sangkyan (annual water-splashing festival in April), but I'm not sure." 

Khun Sa wrested the area around Homong, about 1800 square kilometers, from the Kuomintang remnants in 1985 and made it a "Free Territory of Shan State" for ten years before his abrupt surrender in early 1996.