Khun Sa: As told to SHAN

No.16 - 10/2007
31 October 2007
Politics

Khun Sa:

As told to SHAN

_{Khun Sa during his heydays}

Other names    -           Tun Hsa, Zhang Qifu

                                    Jand Jangtrakul

                                    U Htet Aung

Date of Birth   -           Saturday, 17 February 1934

                                    (The Year of the Dog)

Place of Birth  -           Hpa Hpeung village, Loimaw Ward

                                    Tangyan township (formerly Mongyai state)

                                    Lashio district, Shan State North

Parents           -           Khun Ai (Zhang Bingyao) and Nang Hseng Zoom

Marital status  -           married to Nang Kayyun (died 1993)

Children          -           Nang Long (Khajit)

                                    Zarm Merng (Phajon)

                                    Zarm Herng (Phathai)

                                    Nang Kang (Khanittha)

                                    Zarm Zeun (Phairote)

                                    Zarm Myat (Phaisarn)

                                    Nang Lek (n.a.)

                                    Zarm Mya (Pitak)

            N.B. He also reportedly had a daughter Ploy with Tip, one his mistresses

Former address in Bangkok:

                                    8 Soi Pattananivet 5

                                    Sukhumvit 71

_{Khun Sa in Rangoon, a few years before his death}

Chronology of events

1937                -           Father passes away

                                    Mother remarried to Khun Ji, Chief of Mongtawm

1939                -           Mother passes away

                                    Khun Sa goes to live with paternal grandfather Khun Yihsai

                                    (Zhang Chunwu), Chief of Loimaw

1960                -           (6 January) Approached by Col Maung Shwe, Commander,

                                    Eastern Region Commander, with an offer to set up

                                    a pro-Burma Army militia

1964                -           (17 May) All 100 and 50 kyat banknotes demonetized without

                                    compensation

-                      (15 June) takes up armed struggle under the leadership of

Bo Deving, a hero of Tangyan battle (1959);

Arrives in Ban Hintaek, Chiangrai province; breaks up with Bo Deving; joins the newly-formed Shan State Army (SSA)

N.B. He later decided to return to the Burma Army fold

1967                -           “Opium War” against ex-KMT remnants in the Golden

                                    Triangle, losing opium caravan to Gen Ouane Rattikone,

                                    Laotian army commander (He claims to get it back from

                                    Ouane afterwards)

1969                -           (20 October) arrested and sent to Mandalay prison;

his troops, led by his Manchurian chief of staff Zhang Xuchuan

(Falang), take up the name Shanland United Army (SUA) and

return to the armed struggle

1973                -           (16 April) Two Russian doctors working in Taunggyi abducted

                                    by a trusted aide Charlie Yang to be held as hostage in

exchange for Khun Sa’s release

1974                -           (7 September) released but kept under “protection” of the

                                    Military Intelligence Service (MIS) in Mandalay

1976                -           (7 February) escapes to Shan State and then to Ban Hintaek

1977                -           (16 April) meets Joseph Nellis, aide to Congressman Lester

                                    Wolff, then Chairman of the US House Select Committee on

                                    Narcotics, to present “Six Year Plan” to eradicate opium

                                    production

-                      (18 July) proposal rejected by the Carter administration

1982                -           (21 January) his force in Ban Hintaek attacked by the Thai

                                    Border Patrol Police (BPP) “hired by the DEA”, according to

                                    him; he later attacks and occupies Doilang, opposite

                                    Chiangmai’s Mae Ai district

1985                -           (3 March) joins generals Gawnzerng and Zarm Mai to form a

                                    new Shan State Army (SSA), which later becomes the Mong

                                    Tai Army (MTA); elected as Vice President of the newly

                                    formed Tai Revolutionary Council (later Shan State Restoration

                                    Council); establishes HQ in Homong, opposite Maehongson

Additions

1991                -           Elected President of the Shan State Restoration Council

(SSRC)  following Gawnzerng’s death (11 July)

1993                -           (12 December) declares Independence

1994                -           Forces moving up to Sino-Burma border attacked and dispersed

by Burma Army

1995                -           (6 June) Mutiny by Col Gunyawd who breaks away to set up

                                    Shan State National Army (SSNA), plus combined attack by

                                    Wa and Burma Army and blockade by Thailand, weakens MTA

1996                -           (7 January ) surrenders to Burma Army; moves to Rangoon to

                                    live under protection at MI base Ye Kyi Aing

2004                -           Protégé Gen Khin Nyunt ousted; moves to home in Rangoon

                                    but still under “protection”

2007                -           (28 October) passes away at 06:30 (Burma Standard Time)

-           (30 October) remains cremated at Yeway cemetery, North Okkalapa