Army complimented by poppy farmers

Drugs

Army complimented by poppy farmers

The Burma Army, long been at the receiving end of strong criticisms from the local populace, is, in an exceptional instance, being praised by poppy growers along the Thai-Burma border for consideration shown by its troops during this year's poppy season, which is being regarded as payback time for last year's losses, reports Hawkeye:

"The Burmese soldiers who come to gather vegetables for their pots are very understanding," recounted a hired laborer from Nawng Aw. "They take care to avoid stepping on the poppy plants, unlike some Shan (State Army) soldiers who pass through the fields during their patrols."

Nawng Aw, located between Homong in the west and Mongton in the east, opposite Maehongson, is a village where hordes of poppy fields are beseiging the Army's hill outpost at this time of the year.

"A field using one hoe pays 50,000 kyat ($50) as tax to the Army," she said. "But if it is using up to 5 hoes, the tax is up to 100,000 kyat ($ 100)."

However, opium tax for the Army is collected for the most part by the local militia force of Yang Erh, who has his base at Kawng Teevee east of Nawng Aw.

A Shan relief worker who recently returned from a one-month tip into the area told S.H.A.N. all of the villagers interviewed by him were confident the harvest this season (2004-2005), will be as much as 2002-2003 season if not more.

Each household had produced 6-20 viss (1 viss = 1.6 kg). Last year, adverse weather had pushed it down to 4 viss thereby placing many farmers in debt to their financiers.

Elsewhere in Shan State, similar reports were received by S.H.A.N. except from the north where continued suppression has been reported in most areas for the 4th consecutive year. "Up here, the UN may be able to boast a 54% reduction or even more," said a ceasefire source from southern Shan State who is currently in the north, "but certainly not in the south where we see only more and more fields as each year goes by."

In the east, even in UN's alternative development project areas in the Wa region, there is no sign that the acreage is going down. "Bosses are offering advance payments and people say they need to make the most of it while they're still allowed to grow," said a source from Mongkhark, some 200 km north of Tachilek, who had recently visited the Wa areas.

Bao Youxiang, Wa president, has vowed to make his domain opium-free beginning 26 June 2005.

Meanwhile, a recent report by Shan State South Police Force claims destruction of 1,064 acres of poppy fields during the ongoing season.

According UN office on Drugs and Crimes released on 11 October, opium cultivation in Burma has declined 54% from last year.

Related report: Bosses offer preemptive buy, 23 September 2004