More Wa arrive on the border

General

More Wa arrive on the border

Reporter: King Cobra
Thousands of Wa have continued to travel to the Thai border apparently to head off the consequences of Panghsang's 26 June 2005 deadline to make the Wa region along the Chinese border a drug free zone.

Sources in Mongton, opposite Chiangmai, say at least 3,000 have reached the township since the relocations resumed in December. (Related report: Wa relocations resume, 5 January 2005)

Most resettlers were transported by ten-wheel trucks, but some came in six-wheelers and even 4 -wheelers. Between 9-13 February alone, at least 17 trucks carrying some 500 or more villagers and Wa fighters were unloaded in the township's Mongjawd, Namhu Jawnghtam and Nawng Yahsai villagers.

Below is the estimated arrivals:

At least one out of every four newcomers are ethnic Chinese, according to sources. Each is given rice for a year and 1,000 baht on arrival.

The Wa leadership in Panghsang, their headquarters on the Sino-Burma border, has targeted the resettlement of 100,000. So far between 50,000 - 60,000 have arrived, according to Wa figures. "We know plenty of them fled back to their old homes in the north," a Thai security officer recently told S.H.A.N..

The Wa leadership has been accused by the United States as leading drug producers and 8 of them, including Bao Youxiang, its president, and Wei Hsuehkang, de facto commander of the Wa forces on the Thai border, have been indicted on 24 January.

"That's not fair", a Wa commander in Mongton was quoted as saying. "We're not the only group that is involved in the trade."

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