Wa leader Denied Being in Hiding from Drug Police

Wa leader Denied Being in Hiding from Drug Police

The leader of the non-ceasefire Wa group told SHAN he had not been hiding from Thai drug suppression squads as reported by SHAN last week. 

At the meeting which was held yesterday, Sao Mahasang, President of the Wa National Organization, rejected speculations about his disappearance soon after a press conference held by a Thai police general who mistakenly named him as the leader of the Red Wa group (i.e. the United Wa State Army) that was believed to be in the process of importing 5.7 million amphetamine tablets into Thailand. 

"I had been across the border to inspect my troops. And when I heard about the press conference, I even came down to Maehongson to talk with Thai officials and make inquiries. I have nothing to hide from them", he said. 

He also reproached SHAN for involving the Shan States Army in the report (SHAN, 12 July 1999). In it, SHAN had reported an unidentified Shan States Army source as saying a planned meeting between the SSA and the WNO had to be postponed because of his absence. "That was not true", said he. "I inquired on the 8th whether the meeting would go as planned on the 11th and that I was ready to participate. Such a report, therefore, might cause misunderstandings between the SSA and the WNO". 

The SSA also denied incriminating the WNO in any manner. 

The Wa National Organization was formed and led by Sao Mahasang, a scion of a Wa noble family from Vieng-ngern during the' 70s. It is a member group of the opposition umbrella alliances, namely, the National Democratic Front (NDF), the Democratic Alliance of Burma (DAB) and the National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB). 

N.B. SHAN sincerely regrets for the mistake that came about. It would not have happen if SHAN had taken time to check the report which was originally written in Shan. 

SHAN has always been, and shall always be, for unity of all the diverse groups of Shan State. Therefore criticisms of SHAN conducting itself on the contrary, such as that from Sao Mahasang, shall be much appreciated and welcome.