Briefs

Briefs 

Villagers assigned sentry duties 

Since 1 December, villagers in Kali, 10-miles east of Kunhing, southern Shan State, have been taking turns as watchmen at 8 sentry boxes between the two towns. No reason was given by Lt-Col San Hlaing, Commander of IB 246 (Kunhing). 
Each box is manned by 4 villagers who are relieved every 24 hours. Every person who fails to comply is liable to a K. 100,000 fine (about B. 6,000) according to Capt Myint Aung, Commander, Company 3, LIB 524, in Kali, said sources. 

Wa wins concession to revamp Tachilek airport

Beginning in the new year of 2002, the Wa company of Hongpang, will start building a new runway that will carry Boeing 747s, said a source from Tachilek, opposite Maesai, District of Chiangrai. 

The work is expected to last 1-month. In the meantime, incoming and outgoing flight will be carried by the airport at Monghsat, 80 miles west. Buses will be provided by Hongpang.

Shan New Year's Day in Tachilek 

Hti Seng, 53, a Shan singer who is well-known among both Shan and Burmese song-lovers alike, was in Hawngleuk, Tachilek District, on 15 December, the Shan new year's day according to the lunar calendar. 

Burmese soldiers demanded that he sang Burmese songs. When he politely declined by inviting them to the Htun Lin Yaung Nightclub on the following day, they got angry and denounced that he was desecrating the national language i.e. Burmese. 

Hti Seng is known also as a supporter of the present regime.