Shan army facing financial difficulty

Shan army facing financial difficulty

Among the Shans 

The only Shan group that is actively fighting against Rangoon has been under severe financial constraints since its anti-narcotics principle came into force in 1998, according to Shan resistance quarters. 

During a meeting of army officers that was held on 22 June, 19:00-23:00, chaired by Col. Khurh-ngern, Vice President, Restoration Council of Shan State and Chief of Staff, Shan State Army, a list of the army's unsettled bills was read out. (For reasons of security, the figures shall not be quoted). 

"That is the burden for trying to live up to our principles," said Khurh-ngern. 

One participant agreed. "The Burmese have been accusing us all along of being supported by the Thai. They should have seen our list." 

Khurh-ngern, however, was confident the army would be able to overcome the present difficulty through revenue totally unrelated to drugs. "Financial problems are nothing new for us," he said. 

The meeting was attended by several prominent leaders, including Lt. Col. Wanli, Commander of the crack 198st Brigade and Maj. Oomliang, Officer-in-charge of the Chief-of-Staff office. Col. Yawdserk left a day earlier from Loi Taileng, opposite Maehongson's Pang Mapha District, on a trip.