Poppy areas swell in Shan south

No.08 - 6/2007
19 June 2007
Drugs
 
Poppy areas swell in Shan south
 
As the 26 June deadline drew near, farmers in southern Shan State under the sway of two allied ceasefire groups had appeared to have increased the size of their fields during the last poppy season that ended in March, according to a recent report filed by Ethnic Youth Network Group.
 
More than 6,000 acres of land in Hsihseng, Mawkmai and Faikhun (Pekhon) townships had been grown, compared to an estimated 4,000 acres during the 2005-06 season. "This was in spite of stern warnings by the PaO National Organization (PNO) and Shan State Nationalities Peoples Liberation Organization (SNPLO) forbidding farmers to grow, unlike previous years within public view," said a member of the EYNG who is active inside Burma.

The PNO areas, officially Shan State Special Region #6, has been declared to be opium-free beginning this year, according to UN World Food Program (WFP) which is granting food assistance to ex-poppy farming communities in Shan State.
 
Apart from the PNO, SNPLO and KNG (Kayan National Guard, another ceasefire group), farmers were required to pay "appropriate kickbacks" to Light Infantry Battalions (LIBs) 423, 424, 425, 426 and other units under Faikhun-based Military Operations Command (MOC) # 7, says the report.
 
At least 4 heroin refineries are also believed to be located in the areas. Further details however are yet to be uncovered by the group. "We will need more time and resources," said the member.
 
The EYNG findings were in line with SHAN report Ceasefire group poised between quitting and continuation, 24 April 2007.

Poppies in Faikhun (Pekhon) township (2006-2007)


Poppies in Hsihseng and Mawkmai townships (2006-2007)