Poppy seeds for burning brought by Wa

Poppy seeds for burning brought by Wa 

Drug burning in Shan State 

In response to sympathetic comments to the recent bonfires destroying hundreds of tons of drugs in northern Shan State, sources said yesterday that tons of poppy seeds for destruction were contributed by Wa and several other ceasefire groups. 

"In according with the directive issued by Rangoon authorities a month earlier, all the ceasefire groups chipped in each according to its capacity," said on officer from one of the groups. "The UWSA (United Wa State Army) brought in one full six-wheel truckload." 

Another source said meetings were summoned in 3 northern districts, namely: Lashio, Kunlong and Muse instructing the farmers to present their poppy seeds to the local authorities. "We didn't", he said, "because we were afraid if we did, we would be blacklisted and blackmailed later." 

A certain amount of seeds were turned over to the ceasefire groups and local militia forces but most farmers just hid them away, he added. 

Altogether 114 tons of poppy seeds were burnt in Lashio and Laokai, according to AFP, 10 June, prompting Jean-Luc Lemahieu, resident representative of the United Nations Drug Control Program (UNDCP) to comment that the poppy seeds indicated "the willingness of all those involved to get rid of the opium." 

The ceasefire officer, a central committee member in his group, suggested that in future the media should also try to sound out the local people instead of paying undue attention to the "VIP"s. "With the regime's record of gross human rights violations, is anyone ready to believe there would be voluntary cooperation from the populace?", he asked for effect. 

The burning ceremonies coincided with the combined Burmese-Wa offensive against the Shan State Army that also claimed to be waging a war on drugs against the two.