Wa to be resettled on Khun Sa

Wa to be resettled on Khun Sa's former domain

Reporter Khamleng 

Sources from Tachilek reported to S.H.A.N. that nearly a thousand Wa people from the Chinese border had been slated to resettle in the former territory of druglord Khun Sa across from Chiangmai Province. 

A total of 223 households (928 people, 446 men and 482 women) arrived in Tachilek on 10 February by 16 ten-wheelers of the United Wa State Army's Hongpang Company. It was led by Nyi-Pao, a company commander from Region 171 (Southern Wa). 

They were to be temporarily located in Hwe Aw, Mongton Township, until the Mongtaw-Monghta Area, 80 miles further west was "cleared." (Mongtaw-Monghta Area is opposite Wianghaeng District, Chiangmai Province). 

According to official figures, 814 households (4,442) people have arrived in Mongton Township. But local sources, who have been witnessing hundreds of trucks coming into Mongton, agree the exact figure must be 5-6 times higher. 

A total of 8,000 households (about 40,000 people) has been targeted to be relocated in the township, according to several sources. 

The 3 year relocation program that began in late 1999 aims to relocate 50,000 household in Mongton and its neighboring township, Monghsat.