Opium tax for army levied

Opium tax for army levied

Drugs 

Local militia units have been collecting tax on the newly harvested opium in an eastern Shan State township opposite Chiangmai since late last month, according to reliable sources. 

The three Lahu militia leaders in Mongton Township: Tin Win of Pangsak; Pikoy, his deputy and Jalaw of Mongkarng were met by Captain Han Sein, Commander, Company 1, Infantry Battalion 65, on 23 November at Hwe Nawngsak, about 40 miles from the border, to receive the assignment, they said. 

The three were ordered to collect a minimum of 65 joy (1 joy = 1.6 kg) of opium between them: Tin Win, 24 joy (west of the Mongton-Thai border road); Pikoy, 16 joy (east of the road) and Jalaw, 25 joy (north of the Tasarng-Mongton-Monghsat road). 

In addition, they were appointed as official buying agents for the army, purchasing as many joy as possible at the rate of 6,000-8,000 baht per joy. "You can draw as much cash as you need from Chao Ching (a.k.a. Chaw Ching)," he was quoted to have said. 

According to all the sources, IB 65, among the 4 permanent battalions in Mongton, handles all drug business in the township, in cooperation with the United Wa State Army's 171st Brigade commanded by Wai Hsuehying, younger brother of Wei Hsuehkang: Li Hsien, 56, heads the production division and Chao Ching, 50, acts as sales manager while Captain Han Sein, 49, is responsible for security. 

Han Sein arrived in Mongton in 1981 as a lance-corporal. Distinguishing himself in the campaigns against the Lahu resistance, he rose steadily until 1996, when he was promoted to the present rank. He is married to a local Shan woman, Nang Mon of Hpakhae Village near Mongton, and has two children, 1 boy and 1 girl. (Some reports say the two were from Nang Mon's previous marriage with an ethnic Chinese trader, Lao Yang.) 

"He enjoys excellent relationship with both the local populace and the business sector," said a source. "Many villagers who were arrested on minor, or sometimes even major, charges were often released through his intercessions." 

According to sources close to Han Sein, it is difficult for Burmese units to be free from "unsavory practices" to maintain themselves, when Rangoon authorities is expecting them to survive on their own. "So, in the end, they have only two choices: to live by their wits or to live off the land," said one.