Better harvest claimed by farmers in Southern Shan State

Better harvest claimed by farmers in Southern Shan State 

Drugs 

Two townships under the joint control of Burmese and PaO armies have been boasting a bumper harvest this season, reported a group of Shan "tourists" who were in Southern Shan State in February and March. 

The same group had already reported about the opium situation in the Wa areas. (No: 08 - 04/2003) 
"The fields in Hsihseng (59 miles south of Taunggyi) were as far as your eyes could see," began the monk, unofficial head of the 4-man tour group. 

"We were there during the harvest time. Along the Loi Maw range (northeast of Hsihseng, between the Taunggyi - Hsihseng road in the west and the Pawn in the east), there must be at least 10,000 acres of land covered with poppy plants. Some of them can be seen even from the motor-road". 

The 4 were invited to visit their friends who were taking up temporary residence in the fields. "We were there two days but were not able to visit the entire range," said one of the monk's followers. 

The group also heard the Loi Hon range, (Menay Taung in Burmese) south of the Hopong-Mongpawn road and north of Loi Maw, was also 'swarming' with poppy fields. "But west of the Hopong-Hsihseng road, there are only rice fields," another explained. "It is under the control of the Pa-O National Army, Special Region #6." 

Most growers in Hsihseng Township, estimated at 3,000 households in more than 20 villagers, were Pa-O, the majority in the area, Shans (20%) and Lisaws (5%). "They sell their output to ethnic Chinese buyers who also have their own fields in the area," added one. (NMG report 23 April, says the Chinese buyers came from Taunggyi.) 

Prices range between K 180,000 - 200,000, they said. "They paid 20% of their earnings as tax to the SSNPLO (Shan State Nationalities People's Liberation Organization)" said the monk. "We don't know how much it had to pay the two Burmese battalions at Banyen (north of Hsihseng)." 

The two units are Light Infantry Battalions #425 and 426. The SSNPLO, led by Tarklay, has its headquarters at Nawnghtao, 17 miles east of Hsihseng.