Bkk Post-Wah blamed for murder of 9

[tinkyi@xxxxxxx]

Subject: Bkk Post-Wah blamed for murder of 9 Thais

Bangkok Post April 3, 1999.
BORDER
Wah blamed for murder of 9 Thais
Killings linked to border drug trade

Subin Khuenkaew
Chiang Mai

Wa rebels from Burma have been blamed for the murder of nine villagers found
in a Fang district forest yesterday.

Police said the men, with their hands bound, had been bludgeoned to death
near the border in what appeared a drug-related attack.

Local people told police the men were thought to have been killed while
gathering forest produce near Doi Ang Khang, about 2km from Ban Mae Soon
Noi.

Pol Maj-Gen Nawin Singhaphalin, deputy commander of Region 5, who inspected
the scene, said other villagers had escaped the Wa guerrillas.

"Some managed to escape and returned to their village to seek help without
informing police," he said. "We are questioning witnesses."

It was reported that Ban Mae Soon Noi, where the nine came from, and the
nearby Ban Mai Nong Bua and Ban Mai Sin Jai were drug trading centres full
of addicts.

The villages are opposite a stronghold of 200 guerrillas of the United Wa
State Army led by Chao Harn Thamma.

Lt-Gen Sommai Vichavorn, the third army commander, said the three villages
were drug gateways. "We are looking into the case but have yet to send units
as local and Border Patrol Police are already there."