Sources Claim 9 Thai Villagers Kill

[shan@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Sources Claim 9 Thai Villagers Killed by Lahu Militia: 

21 April 1999 

Sources in Fang have reported that the 9 Thai villagers who were found
beaten to death on 31 March were killed by the Lahu militia plus Burma Army
men and not by the Wa Army as widely believed. 

The nine villagers from Maesai in Fang District, Chiangmai Province, were
found dead a few kilometers from the Thai-Burma border. As the area is
believed to be controlled by the powerful United Wa State Army, reputed to
be the biggest producer of heroin and amphetamines, it is generally assumed
that the killings were done by the Wa troops. The Was have denied having
anything to do with the killings but the accusations have persisted. 

The sources said the villagers had taken a certain amount of amphetamines
to be sold in Thailand from the Lahu militia in Mongton Township, Mongsart
District. 

According to the sources there are two amphetamine factories in Mongton
Township: one near Nakawngmu and the other, operated by a Chinese by the
name of Ah Wen, aged 58. Both are protected by Infantry Battalions 65, 519
and 225 and the Lahu militia, They were apparently angry with the Thai
villagers because they had taken so long to pay them what they owed: B.
520,000. 

One indication the culprits were Lahus was that in the pockets of the first
two victims the Thai officials found B. 200 and two "Flying Tiger" cheroots
each. The rest had only two cheroots each in their pockets. This is a Lahu
traditional practice for the dead and for the sinners to make up for their
wrongdoing to the dead. 

In order to counter the activities of the Shan resistance, the junta army
has been grooming Lahu tribesmen as counter-insurgency militias. The last
training course was given on 18-30 March at Hokho Maeharng ( near Maeharng
Bridge in Mongton Township). At the end of the training, they were
presented with M16s and M79s by the junta officers.  Each was also given
two different uniforms, one Burmese and the other Wa. The latter is for
those who operate across the border into Thailand. "The aim obviously is to
divert any attention from the Lahu-Burmese force to the Wa," said one
source.  

For further information, please contact S.H.A.N. at (053) 807 121 and
e-mail <shan@xxxxxxxxxxxx> 

Shan Herald Agency for News.