Head of Khun Sa

Head of Khun Sa's former stronghold denies killing of Thai commander

Drugs 

Sources close to Mahaja, leader of Homong, a former base of warlord Khun Sa until he surrendered in 1996, have rejected allegations that the execution of a Thai military officer on 25 September was ordered by him, as reported by The Nation, 7 October. 

"We are pretty sure he's dead", said the source from Maehongson who has for years been an unofficial spokesperson for Mahaja, who was accused as ordering the execution of Thongkham Kaewkongma, a member of the 1st Territorial Defence Company. "But the executioners must have been from the Kokang bosses in the area." 

He said Mahaja, a scion of the Wa prince of Wiang-ngern, had been out of Homong since 19 September. A source close to the Burmese military also confirmed he arrived at Namzarng from Langkhurh, a town across the Salween opposite Homong, on 22 September. "He has not been back since," he said [Namzarng is some 150 miles north of Homong]. 

Mahaja's Shan State South Company has some logging interests in the Kengtawng area near Namzarng. Both he and Burmese commanders in the Homong area are also receiving kickbacks from the drug operators, according to several sources. 

Mahaja is half-brother to Mahasang, leader of the non-ceasefire Wa faction, Wa National Organization, that has a base at the border opposite Muang District of Maehongson. A hill near his mountain stronghold at Loi Tawngmyawk was seized by Infantry Battalion 99 on 19 September, the same day Mahaja left for Namzarng. (Mahasang later told S.H.A.N. the hill was unoccupied "so the Burmese were able to overrun it without any opposition.") 

Sources also confirmed that Homong, like other areas, opposite northern Thailand, is teeming with opium fields. "So much for SPDC's anti-drug efforts," said one.