Opium growing

It is ironic that the stated rationale for moving the villagers to the south was to enable them to give up growing opium, when the areas to which they were moved along the Thai border were also well-known as opium-producing areas.

Although the settlers had been told that they would not be allowed to grow opium in the new area, after they had arrived they were told the opposite.

“Our area was very good for growing opium. The Wa Army told the new settlers that they could grow opium for 3 years. Also the SPDC had told the people: You cannot grow opium on the forehead (i.e. in full view), but on the nape of the neck (i.e. out of sight). As a result the new Wa settlers planted large areas of opium. They were allowed to sell the opium freely, even to Thailand, but the local Lahu, Akha and Shan villagers were not allowed to sell their opium freely. They were given the order that they must sell it directly to the Wa Army. If they disobeyed the order, they were arrested and imprisoned.”

“The Wa leader Wei Hsiao Kang said to us: “ If you need money, you can grow opium. We have made an agreement with SPDC. You can grow it for three years and you don’t have to pay tax.”” (LNDO Interview #1)

 

“The Wa settlers themselves had to pay tax to the Wa Army. In one year, they had to give 10 ticals of opium, 2 tins of rice and 200 baht. But they did not have to pay any taxes to the SPDC.”(LNDO Interview #6)

Apart from growing opium, some of the settlers found themselves also becoming involved in the trading of amphetamines. “Before we had come to the new place, we had only heard the name “Ya Ba” (Crazy Drug, or amphetamines). We had never seen it. Here there was a lot. If we transported it into Thailand, which would take one day and one night, we could get 10,000 baht. If I hadn’t been disabled, I’m sure I would have done it. The people who did this earned a lot of money and bought things which we had never seen before.” (LNDO Interview #1)

Wa settlers in the south