While the United Wa State Army (UWSA) is under fire by the international community over allegations of drug trafficking, officials in Panghsang have arrested a number of traders with imported drugs, mainly methamphetamines, claimed a Wa officer yesterday.

“We were told that the drugs were purchased from refineries under Bo Mon (Burmese Army-backed militia leader of Manpang, Tangyan township, Lashio district, Shan State North),” he said. “It’s ridiculous. These people (militias) are getting away with everything, while we get all the blame.”

The officer who requested anonymity was responding to SHAN’s query about the latest Wa public relations drive on drugs. Posters written in Chinese and pasted in crowded areas of Panghsang aka Pangkham (written in anglicized Chinese as Bangkang) since early in the month warn its people of drug abuse and trafficking as well as their consequences:

• Drug use (especially opium) –

For those over 50, it is up to local officials to decide whether the user be subject to exemption or discontinuation
For those under 50, the user has no choice but to discontinue

• Drug trafficking
• Confiscation with fine (up to 50 per cent of the value of the drugs seized)
• Those who are caught exporting drugs face  additional punishment i.e. 3 to 5 year in prison

The contents of the announcement are also read out in Panghsang’s daily TV programme, he added.

As to increasing reports of drug seizures in Thailand where members or former members of the UWSA have been implicated, he said the group had explicit orders banning its members from involvement in such activities. “These are the results of sting operations,” he explained. “So right from the beginning, our policy is only to do business well within our border, not outside, no matter how much more the buyer is offering to pay us. Anyone caught ignoring the order faces a death sentence.”

The rule also applies to purchasing arms, he said. “We only receive arms shipments on the border. Anyone caught outside the border is clearly going against the order.”

A Wa officer was detained in Chiangmai last month with three M16 automatic rifles and a pistol he had just bought.

“The 171st is of course somewhat lax on discipline,” he said. The UWSA’s 171st Military Region is based along the Thai-Burma border. It is commanded by Wei Xuegang, wanted both in Thailand and the US on drug charges.

The procedure on handing over drugs to foreign buyers and receiving arms from foreign suppliers strictly on the border are more or less identical to that of the late Khun Sa’s Mong Tai Army (MTA) that flourished between 1985 and 1995. One company commander Kham Man was sentenced to death after fighters under his command were caught near Maehongson in a sting operation.

The officer however was unable to give a satisfactory answer to SHAN’s question: how the UWSA expects to survive without continued involvement in the drug business.

The UWSA’s November 10 counter proposal to the Burmese Army’s Border Guard Force (BGF) proposal that requires Wa and other ethnic armies to be controlled by Burmese Army officers was turned down by Naypyitaw on November 25 during the holding of the Burmese Army’s tri-annual meeting.

The ceasefire groups have been given a deadline till 31 December 2009 to accept the Burmese Army’s demand.