Junta Commander provides opium subsidy

Junta Commander provides opium subsidy

Drugs
Reporter: Maihoong

According to sources who arrived at the border recently, one junta commander has been actively involved in the opium production by handing out grants to the local farmers. 

Sources said Lt-Col. Tin Maung, commander LIB 513 (Panglong, Loilem District, Southern Shan State) called a meeting of village headmen on 7 October at the battalion post, where he informed his audience that he was sympathized with the people who were forced relocated to Panglong in 1997. He knew most of them were living from hand to mouth and would like to help them by allowing them to grow poppies. Those who did not have capital would be granted K. 5,000 per acre. The only condition was that they would have to sell it to authorized buyers at prevailing market price. Selling opium to unauthorized buyers would be severely punished, a fine of 1 viss of opium fine for each K. 100 that the farmer made. 

Many, recommended by respective village headmen, received grants from Col. Tin Maung. Among them were Zai Nya, 47, originally from Wankung, Sanien Tract and Wayama, 47 from Panghu Tract. 

On 1 December, as poppies began to sprout and flower, a patrol from the neighboring Laikha arrived at the poppy fields and shot to death 6 of their hired laborers: 

1. Awta, 37, male, Wankung, Sanien Tract

2. Khattiya, 31, male, Wankung, Sanien Tract

3. Hpawka, 41, male, Hwezu, Sanien Tract

4. Mint, 26, male, Kungkart, Sanien Tract

5. Mawn, 41, male, Khonglarng, Panghu Tract

6. Mala, 33, male, Hpailern, Panghu Tract

When the farmers notified Col. Tin Maung of the incident, he said the only way to resolve this problem with the other units was to collect K. 2,000 for each acre from the farmers and he would see that all went well. 

K. 6 million, as a result, was collected and handed over to Col. Tin Maung on 7 December and since then "everything seems to be at peace," said sources. 

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PYNG also reports poppy fields surrounding the town of Kutkhai in northern Shan State. "Nobody, not even MI-9 in Lashio and MI-23 in Muse, appeared to mind," reported Panglong Youth Network Group. 

It also said 3 policemen were sentenced to jail for destroying a poppy field in Panhsay Village, Namkham Township, Muse District. One of them, Policeman Nyanlu, died in Lashio prison in August. 

"Their crime was they were wrecking the fields owned by Kyaw Myint, an influential militia leader of Chinese descent," said PYNG.