S.H.A.N : CHINESE NATIONALS BRIBE S

[H.NG.P SPM" <100706.1311@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: S.H.A.N : CHINESE NATIONALS BRIBE SLORC TO GET ID CARD

S.H.A.N : CHINESE NATIONALS BRIBE SLORC  OFFICIALS 
              TO GET IDENTITY CARDS AS SURRENDERING MTA MEMBERS
April 15, 1996

>From mid-February to late March, Khun Sa's MTA has been surrendering to SLORC at
variuos places and times. Since then, SLORC authorities in Ho Murng, Mai Soong,
Murng Sard, Keng Tung and Tachilek have been issuing temporary identity cards to
the MTA members who have surrendered.

But in places like Piang Luang, Mai Soong and Tachilek,Chinese nationals who are
simply traders and muleteers ( who had never belonged to the MTA ) have been
bribing SLORC authorities for each identity cards.

In Tachilek, Chinese who live in Hin Tek, Mae Chan, Hue Khrai, Hue Nam Khun, Ban
Tham, Nam Cham and Mae Sai, have been applying in great numbers so that SLORC
immigration officials there are reaping a great deal of extra income. Any
Chinese who can afford the deal can get a card at any time without delay, even
during the night.

However, for the Shan soldiers and officials of the MTA who came from their
former strongholds of Par Ko, Loi Lam, Par Zang and Phak Tu Murng, the situation
is rather different. Though they want to go home as soon as possible, they
usually have to wait 5-6 days, during which time they have to depend on the
Buddhist monasteries for food and lodging. Some have to ask for money, about 60
baht, for the cost of photographing, from some former MTA officers who are
running gambling dens, and have to join the queue to wait their. ( Some Chinese
nationals who had previously been members of MTA have been granted permission by
SLORC authorities to open up gambling dens in Tachilek. About 30-40 Shan
ex-soldiers of MTA who cannot go home are being hired to take the menial jobs of
cleaning and serving at the gambling dens. )
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