Wa no better than Burmese

Wa no better than Burmese, say Lahu Villagers

Reported by: Lahu Network News

According to sources coming from Mongton, across from Chiangmai, the local people are being treated no better by the Wa authorities than the Burmese rulers.

Hopang-Hoyawd, an integrated village 30 miles northeast of Mongton, has a market set up by the United Wa state Army. Shopkeepers there, most of whom are Shans and Chinese, are said to be paying B.3,000 per month to both the Wa and Burmese authorities.

The local populace, most of whom are Lahu, are required to sweep the marketplace every 15 days. Households that fail to present their delegated sweepers are being fined B.500 or K.5,000, in accordance with the local exchange rate.

Also, the Wa authorities appear to be practising a policy of discrimination towards the populace, made up of Shan and Lahu natives and the new settlers from Panghsang, the Wa capital, in the north. “We have to pay a K.10,000 (B.1,000) fine, if one of our buffaloes strays into the Wa fields” said local Lahu villagers. “But if our fields are raided by buffaloes owned by the Wa, there is no official to take up our complaints. One of the Lahus was threatened with a gun and driven away, when he went to present his grievances.”

For further details, please contact Ja-htaw, 66-53-244549. <lahunet@chmai2.loxinfo.co.th>