Junta soldiers made to drink

Junta soldiers made to drink "holy water" before attack, said porters

Civilian porters who fled from the battlefield across Chiangmai told S.H.A.N. today that attacking troops were served with speed pills dissolved in water as "consecrated water" before yesterday's attack regarded as the fiercest during the 7-day long battle. 

Villagers who fled from Pakhee battlefield opposite Fang District, Chiangmai Province, told S.H.A.N. that they witnessed soldiers from LIB 519 taking turns to drink the solution from barrels just before they marched off to charge up the western slopes of Pakhee in their attempt to reoccupy it from the Shan State Army of Yawdserk. 
"We saw some soldiers still going on a shooting spree after their return from their attacks," one said. "They seemed to be caught in an uncontrollable craze."

According to Shan State Army sources, IB 225 and LIB 519 were assigned to attack the Shans from the west regarded by border watchers as suicidal. Previous attacks were launched from the north at Honok. 

Pakhee could not be approached from the east and west without encroaching Thai territory.