16/8/99:BURMA DRUG REPORT BY PROF.D (r)

[heiko@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Re: 16/8/99:BURMA DRUG REPORT BY PROF.DESMOND BALL

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Dear Friends,

it is not the first time, Prof. Ball accuses the senior members of the
SPDC on drug dealing. In his Book "Burma's Military Secrets" he wrote
about XX-1 or Khin Nyunt:

p 77, middle paragraph:
"Khin Nyunt is also involved in the opium business. Some of the
agreements with the ethnic groups reportedly allow them to produce opium
in the areas under their control. The Thai Narcotics Control Board has
reported that Khin Nyunt has made arrangements with certain opium
warlords to smuggle heroin into Thailand 'without interception'; and he
has provided protection to others, such as Khun Sa, who are wanted on
heroin trafficking charges abroad."

He can give even on this paragraph sources of information, printed at
the end of the chapter.

But realy, how can they personally maintain such a good life? In the
Book "The Lady" by Barbara Victor, a general said himself, he earns only
50 Dollars per month. And I believe him. This is his real sellary from
the nation cash box, but the drugs are much more lucrative. Even with
their iron grip on the burmese economy, I cannot believe to maintain
this kind of life without drug money.

Regards
Heiko

Dr U Ne Oo wrote:
> 
> WRITTEN 16-AUG-99, 6:00AM.
> 
> BURMA DRUG REPORT BY PROF DESMOND BALL
> 
> I felt almost fallen ill as I read Professor Desmond Ball's recent
> report on "BURMA AND DRUG: The Regime's Complicity in the Global Drug
> Trade". The paper make an extremely serious allegation about direct
> involvement by top SPDC/SLORC officers in heroine trafficking and
> production and sales of amphetamine-type tablets.
> 
> ACTIVISTS, JOURNALIST AND
> ACADEMICS: DIFFERENCE IN REPORTING MERITS
> 
> Although there were discussion amongst activist circle about the
> possible involvement of senior Burmese military officers in drug trade,
> since the logistics is difficult to all activists, we have never been
> able to find any concrete evidence. Journalists, on the other hand, do
> have some resource/connection to find out the possible leads to the
> junta's trafficking problems. For example, reporters such Mr Bertil
> Lintner and some from the Geopolitical Drug Watch, over the years, have
> extensively reported the Burmese military personnel's direct involvement
> in drug traffickings. Nevertheless, these journalists are considered
> staunchly anti-junta and pro-democracy and therefore, their testimonies
> has to be treated with proper caution.
> 
> Current drug report by Professor Desmond Ball not only comes from
> academic quarters, but also describe in detail of top military officers
> involving in drug trade as follows (allegation are too serious here and
> I therefore deleted names):
> 
>         (BEGIN.EXCERPT)"[M]any of the top General in the SLORC/SPDC have
> benefitted personally and directly from drug trafficking activities.
> Some such as XX-1, have organised their own shares in drug
> production and movement operations. Others have made lucrative deals
> with various drug gangsters, both those 'retired'in Rangoon and those
> controlling the operations in the border areas, involving the proceeds
> from 'money laundering'. The relationship between YY-1 and Khun Sa is
> probably of this sort.
> 
> The second-in-command of the SPDC, General XX-2, who is also
> Commander-in-Chief of the Army, has extensive drug connections. Before
> he became Vice-Chairman on 31 March 1993 he was commander of the Eastern
> Command, based in Taunggyi, where he commanded one of the main durg
> production ares.
> 
> XX-1, the No.3 man, probably has the most extensive drug
> connecitons. AS the chief architect of the ceasefire for opium
> production exchange agreements with the former insurgent groups, he
> ensured himself a share of their drug profits. His Military Intelligence
> (MI) network is used to expedite passage of drug shipments both through
> northern Burma and across the various borders. For example, MI
> Detachment 17 in Sagaing Division is involved in the passage of heroin
> into India. XX-1s closest personal relationships are with Lo
> Hsing-han to whom he gave special trafficking privileges in 1993; and,
> more recently, Lin Min-shing (Lin Mingxian), who is based at Mong La
> opposite Yunnan, and who is now ( since the retirements of Lo Hsing-han
> and Khun Sa) the most powerful drug warlord in Burma. In addition to his
> heroin interests, XX-1 has recently acquired shares in five
> amphetamine laboratories in areas controlled by Lin Min-shing near Mong
> La.
> 
> Other members of the SPDC who have direct and important drug connections
> are the No.4, Lieutenant General XX-3, who is officially titled
> Secretary (2) of the Council, and who is part-owner of two heroin
> refineries, at Murng Kerng and Kaesee(Kesi) in central Shan State:
> Bragadier General ZZ-1, who is now Commander of the Southeast
> command (based at Moulmein), but who in 1995-97 was the tactical
> operations commandeer in the Mong Ton area of the Traangle Region
> Command, where he was paid large bribes to protect the herion refineries
> around Mong Ton, Mong Taw and Mong Tha."(END.EXCERPTS)
> 
> Recalling one decade ago when I was in Burma, I have heard things about
> military/MI convoys were involved, not in trafficking heroin, but in
> some Jade/Gemstone blackmarket operations. Given the magnitude of
> lawlessness as is now in Burma, it is entirely possible that the
> allegation of traffickings by military and involvements of top military
> leaders in it may be well founded.
> 
> POLITICAL(HUMAN RIGHTS) AND SECURITY ISSUE
> 
> As the Burmese opposition activists, we do engage in a daily campaign
> for reconciliation with the military junta, no matter one considered how
> heinous of their 'human rights crimes' against the Burmese people. The
> junta leader's involvement in drug trafficking, however, are not human
> rights issues: it is considered a downright criminal activity. The issue
> is critically international security issue on which we (the opposition
> activists outside) or National League for Democracy will have not much
> influence to say. As the allegation has been extremely serious, we must
> certainly draw it to the attention of UN Security Council and
> influential governments.
> 
> Burma observers would have well noticed that last July the Thai military
> officials expressing concerns about Burmese army's involvement in drug
> trade and Canadian Foreign ministers offers for cooperation. Hopefully,
> it is not too late for junta to come clean of its drug involvements and
> immediately cooperate with international community and opposition NLD to
> resolve the issues.
> 
> With best regards, U Ne Oo.
> --
> HTTP://www.physics.adelaide.edu.au/~uneoo
> EMAILS: drunoo@xxxxxxxxxxxx, uneoo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> POSTMAIL: Dr U Ne Oo, 18 Shannon Place, Adelaide SA 5000, AUSTRALIA
> [http://freeburma.org/[http://www.angelfire.com/al/homepageas/index.htm]
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

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