Poppies For Rangoon

Poppies For Rangoon

The former Free Territory of Khun Sa across Chiangmai and Maehongson provinces are now scattered with poppy fields, reported Saengjuen. 

"Khailong, Tarklaed, Namkad, Sanzu, Sankarng and Htamwo across Maehongson and Mongtaw, Kiukaw and Khaima-uen across Chiangmai are sprawling with poppy fields", he said. 

According to him recent arrivals from Mongphyak and Kengtung, IB 221 and LIB 314 respectively, would like to boast to each other that "vegetables are especially tasty at this time of the year because of the poppy plants (that suck up the acridity from the vegetables)". 

The poppy farmers complained to S.H.A.N., "We now have to divide our income into 4 portions: 

1. One for the Burmese (Army); 

2. One for the Shan (Army); 

3. One for making merits (i.e. social and religious donations); 

4. and the remainder for our families". 

The junta army takes the lion's share, they said.