[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

voa on Khun Sa and happy retiremen



Subject: voa on Khun  Sa and happy retirement 

DATE=3/6/96
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-193826
TITLE=BURMA / KHUN SA (L-O)
 
BYLINE=DAN ROBINSON
 
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  REPORTS FROM BURMA SAY FORMER OPIUM TRAFFICKER KHUN SA 
HAS BEEN MOVED TO RANGOON.  V-O-A'S DAN ROBINSON REPORTS SENIOR 
OFFICIALS OF BURMA'S RULING MILITARY GOVERNMENT ARE QUOTED AS 
CONFIRMING KHUN SA IS IN THE CAPITAL:

TEXT:  SINCE THE SURRENDER OF KHUN SA TO BURMESE GOVERNMENT 
FORCES IN JANUARY, A SERIES OF REPORTS DEEPENED THE MYSTERY 
CONCERNING HIS WHEREABOUTS.

SOURCES IN SHAN STATE -- WHERE KHUN SA OPERATED HIS LUCRATIVE 
OPIUM AND GEM BUSINESSES -- WERE QUOTED AS SAYING HE HAD ALREADY 
FLOWN TO RANGOON AT LEAST ONCE TO MEET SENIOR OFFICIALS OF 
BURMA'S MILITARY JUNTA.

HOWEVER, OTHER REPORTS SAID HE HAD NEVER MOVED FROM THE SHAN 
STATE TOWN, HOMONG -- A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE BORDER WITH 
THAILAND.

NOW, NEWS AGENCY REPORTS QUOTE WHAT THEY CALL SENIOR BURMESE 
MILITARY OFFICIALS AS CONFIRMING KHUN SA IS IN RANGOON.  STILL 
UNCLEAR IS WHEN HE ARRIVED, AND EXACTLY WHERE HE IS STAYING.

ONE REPORT HAS HIM BEING HELD AT WHAT IS CALLED A MILITARY 
SECURITY CAMP.  EARLIER THIS WEEK, MEDIA REPORTS IN THAILAND 
QUOTED SOURCES IN RANGOON AS SAYING KHUN SA WAS STAYING AT A 
VILLA ON THE SHORE OF INYA LAKE.

// OPT //  OTHER RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA INCLUDE BURMA'S FORMER 
MILITARY STRONGMAN, NE WIN, AND AUNG SAN SUU KYI -- LEADER OF 
BURMA'S DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT.  // END OPT //

DIPLOMATIC SOURCES IN RANGOON CONTACTED BY TELEPHONE (WEDNESDAY) 
HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONFIRM THE LATEST REPORTS ABOUT KHUN SA.  
OFFICIAL BURMESE MEDIA HAVE NOT MENTIONED KHUN SA'S ARRIVAL IN 
RANGOON.  

BURMA'S JUNTA HAS REFUSED TO SAY WHAT IT WILL DO WITH THE 
61-YEAR-OLD KHUN SA -- WHOSE REAL NAME IS CHIANG SIFU.  OFFICIALS
HAVE SAID ONLY THAT HE WILL BE TREATED ACCORDING TO BURMESE LAWS.

RANGOON REJECTS U-S DEMANDS HE BE EXTRADITED TO STAND TRIAL.  IN 
1989, KHUN SA WAS INDICTED IN ABSENTIA BY A NEW YORK COURT ON 
HEROIN-TRAFFICKING CHARGES.

THE UNITED STATES HAS CRITICIZED WHAT IT CALLS ANY POLITICAL DEAL
THAT WOULD ALLOW HIM TO REMAIN FREE.  WASHINGTON HAS OFFERED A 
TWO-MILLION-DOLLAR REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO HIS ARREST 
AND CONVICTION.

            // REST OPTIONAL //

ALTHOUGH BURMA'S MILITARY SAYS MORE THAN 15 THOUSAND MEMBERS OF 
KHUN SA'S SHAN STATE ARMY SURRENDERED, PERSISTENT REPORTS SAY 
HUNDREDS OF SHAN REBELS CONTINUE TO FIGHT GOVERNMENT FORCES.

BURMA'S MILITARY SAYS THE SURRENDER OF KHUN SA WILL LEAD TO A 70 
PERCENT DECREASE IN OPIUM PRODUCTION IN SHAN STATE.  BUT A NEW 
U-S REPORT ON NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING SAYS RANGOON REMAINS 
UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO REDUCE TRAFFICKING BY KEY ETHNIC GROUPS 
AND CALLS SUPPRESSION EFFORTS WOEFULLY INADEQUATE.  (SIGNED) 

NEB / DB / AC / WOD

06-Mar-96 7:26 AM EST (1226 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America