News Brief: (r)

[shan@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

20 August 1999 

Another Border Pass Closed 
The Laktaeng border pass, between Tambon Piangluang, Wianghaeng District,
Chiangmai and Pangmaisoong, Mongton Township, Mongsart District was closed by
the Burmese without prior notification on 9 August. 

Although no specific reason was given, it was believed to be related to an
incident which occurred the day before. A Chinese villager from the Thai side
who was reported to be a drug addict, was found stabbed to death at a secluded
place on the Burmese side. After learning about the news, a Thai official went
to the site and took some photographs. On his return, his camera was snatched
away by a Burmese official at the checkpoint, the film roll taken out and he
was given back a new roll of film. An exchange of harsh words followed,
according to the source. 

"Now people have to pay a lot of both sides in order to be allowed to pass. It
used to be five baht per person before now is twenty", added the source. 

Pangmaisoong used to be the stronghold of the resistance from 1958-1996, the
year Khun Sa surrendered. 


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20 August 1999 

Shan Meet 
A meeting was held in an undetified location in northern Thailand on 14
August.
It was attended by representatives from the Shans overseas and the Shan States
Army of Yawdserk. Although the details were not known, the spokesman said, "It
was only a mid-year meeting of the Shan Democratic Union". 

The SDU was formed in 1996 by the overseas Shans led by Sao Hsohom, Prince of
Mongpawn, who is reported to be residing in Australia. Its basic policies were
to support the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy that won elections
in the
Shan States in 1990, and to bring about a plebiscite for the people of Shan
State in order to decide their own destiny, according to the source. 


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20 August 1999 

Owner of Seized 4.1 million Horse Pills Flees
The owner of the 4.1 million amphetamine pills that were seized by the Thai
authorities on 28 July was reported to have fled across the border. 

"Her name is Hsiao Ying-ma, who has a house in Banmai Huay Khrai (Maesai
District, Chiangrai Province)" said the source. "She is related to Yishay, who
undertook the job to smuggle the drugs into Thailand, where they were
discovered and seized". 

The source added, "As soon as the news came out, Hsiao Ying-ma, who is a
widow,
and her friends, fled across the border into the Shan State, where they
believed there was no fear of prosecution from the Burmese junta". 

/// END \\\ 
For further information, please contact S.H.A.N. at: 
Shan Herald Agency for News. 
P.O. Box. 15 
Nonghoi P.O., 50007 
Chiangmai 
Thailand 
Ph/Fax: (053) 807 121 
e-mail: <shan@xxxxxxxxxxxx>