Wa and Burmese commanders strike new deal

Wa and Burmese commanders strike new deal

Drugs again

Wa and Burmese officials had recently held in a meeting across the border for renewed cooperation after the arrival of a new battalion commander, reported a border watcher yesterday.

The meeting took place at the IB 65 command post in Mongton township, Monghsat District, opposite Chiangdao district of Chiangmai on 19 September. It was presided over by its new commander, Lt-Col Hla Myint, who succeeded Lt-Col Myint Sway earlier this month, and attended by other battalion commanders in the area Lt-Col Maung Maung Than of IB 225, Lt-Col Moe Aung of IB 277 and Lt-Col Win Sein of LIB 519; Wa officials Wei Hsiaoying, Jalabo, Ta Marn, Ta Htawn and Ta Hperng and Hsaw Hsing a.k.a. "Chawching". The meeting lasted two and a half hours from 0900-1130.

A 6-point agreement was concluded there, said the source. According to it, Hsaw Hsing was to remain the cartel's sales agent, as agreed earlier on 4 June (#7-15, Wa going 5050, S.H.A.N.). Proceeds from sale would be divided equally between Wa and Burmese. One baht from the sale of each pill (current price B 11 per pill) would be reserved for the army's expenses. Security during transit would be provided by both forces the Burmese along the motor-road and the Wa off the motor-road.

The last point was that no credit would be given to buyers anymore. "In the past, there had been several instances when consignments were seized in Thailand and their customers, as a result, were unable to pay back," the source explained.

The new commander concluded the meeting with an exhortation, "We shall stand only if we are loyal to each other."

Burmese units were more and more heavily involved in the drug business since a self-reliance policy was imposed on them a few years ago, said Thai intelligence sources.