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Bao junior put out to pasture

Drugs

Contrary to reports about Bao Youhua, the youngest brother of supreme Wa leader Bao Youxiang, being stripped of his ranks and imprisoned, both local and border security sources are confirming again that the former commander of the regiment responsible for the security of Panghsang, the Wa capital on the Chinese border, is definitely not under detention.

"He was persuaded by his cousin, Ai Yong, 28, who has been tipped to eventually replace him, to return home," said a Shan businessman "doing business" with the Wa. "He apparently went back unchained, on 18 February, if I remember well, because I saw him late in February in Monghpen with 5-6 followers. He no longer wore the Wa military uniform, but otherwise he was moving around quite freely."

"Another telling point was that his grand Nawngpa villa in Tachilek is still looked after by his trusted disciples and the debtors (who had been detained for defaulting on their drug loans) are still being kept there," he explained.

Unconfirmed reports also say his name has yet to be removed from the Thai-initiated Yawngkha project supervisory board.

According to the latest report, he was said to have been given two choices: either to move to Namteuk (Namtit) under his third brother Bao Youliang or go to live with their mother at Kunma near the Chinese border.

"They didn't want him around Monghpen, where his presence could be embarrassing to Panghsang," he said.

Courtesy: Tom Kramer

The UN's Wa Alternative Development Project had been in place in the area since 1998.

As brothers go, the Baos are not as close-knit as they appear to outsiders, he added. "The eldest, Youri and the third, Youliang, form a clique against that of Youxiang, the second, and Youhua, the fourth," he said. "Youri was said to have blasted Youxiang saying it was his fault that Youhua had become so unruly."

Bao Youhua was demoted and his assets seized after Bao Youxiang's latest visit to China, 8-10 January, according to the Wa sources. He has 17 children and stands accused of being a criminal, reported Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on 18 December.

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Bao junior put out to pasture